USA TODAY: …Pakistan is seen as key to the process because of its strong historical ties with the Taliban. But Pakistan and Afghanistan have long had troubled relations and view each other with suspicion, especially because Kabul has repeatedly accused Islamabad of providing sanctuary for the insurgents.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was visiting Pakistan for the first time since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office in June. Karzai told Sharif during a joint news conference in Islamabad that he expects the Pakistani government to “facilitate and help in manners it can to the peace process in Afghanistan and in providing opportunities, not a platform, for talks between the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban movement.”
On Saturday, however, the Afghan president described his expectations for progress during the visit by saying “I am not confident, but I am hopeful.” He indicated that previous visits to Pakistan hadn’t helped improve security in Afghanistan, but “we must continue our efforts.” … (more)
