Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday stressed the need for Pakistan's help in arranging peace talks with the Taliban, in a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who assured him of his support.

Pakistan is seen as a crucial gatekeeper in attempts by the US and Afghan governments to reach out to insurgent leaders who fled to Pakistan after the Taliban's 2001 ouster.

But Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of playing a double game in the 12-year-old war, saying its neighbor, facing a Taliban insurgency of its own, makes public pronouncements about peace, but allows elements of its military to play a spoiling role.

Elements of the Pakistani state are widely accused of funding, controlling and sheltering the Taliban, according to AFP. Islamabad says publicly that it will do anything to stop the fighting in Afghanistan.

Karzai said Afghanistan expected Pakistan to provide opportunities or a platform for talks between the Afghan High Peace Council - Kabul's official negotiators - and the Taliban.

Karzai said he had "primarily and with emphasis" asked the Pakistanis to help with reconciliation after the majority of foreign troops leave Afghanistan next year.

He wants Pakistan to help arrange contacts between the Taliban and the Afghan High Peace Council, the government body tasked with reconciliation, or release high-ranking Taliban prisoners who might act as interlocutors. Sharif did not specifically address those requests during Karzai's visit to the Pakistani capital.

It is unclear whether the Afghan Taliban, in power from 1996 and 2001, will have a role in the next government. The Taliban have refused to talk to Karzai, accusing him of being a US puppet.

Kabul was infuriated by the opening in June of a Taliban office in Qatar, a move considered a precursor of talks with US officials. He now wants Pakistan to help open dialogue with the militia.

"For the two countries, the primary concern is lack of security for their citizens and the continued menace of terrorism," Karzai said. "It is this area that needs to have primary and focused attention from both governments."

Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 08/27/2013 page12)