ISLAMABAD (AA) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Wednesday as part of the western efforts to break a deadlock in Afghan peace talks.
The focus of British foreign secretary’s two-day visit would be on the current Afghan situation upon the concerns of Britain, which is part of the US-led NATO/ISAF mission in Afghanistan, over the deadlock regarding Qatar talks.
The process allowing Afghan Taliban to set up a representative office in Doha, hangs in the balance after the Afghan administration raised concerns by objecting to the Taliban office.
Pakistani Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and British Foreign Secretary Hague will hold official talks to discuss measures to help revive the Afghan peace process.
Britain's Hague is due to call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan as he may play a crucial role in persuading the Afghan Taliban to come to the negotiating table with the Afghan leader Hamid Karzai in Qatar.
British diplomat will also meet Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and brief him on investigations into the murder of Imran Farooq, the assassinated former leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who was killed outside his home in September 2010 on Green Lane, Edgware, near the MQM’s International Secretariat.
The other highlights on the agenda of Hague's visit are the withdrawal of NATO Force in Afghanistan after 2014, the exchange of intelligence between Britain and Pakistan as well as the counter-terrorism efforts and operations against drug trafficking and smuggling.
