London: British Prime Minister David Cameron is holding talks with Afghanistan and Pakistan for the third time since 2012. These trilateral talks are aimed at improving Afghanistan-Pakistan cooperation and stability to maintain peace in the region.
Also, for the first time Afghan and Pakistani army and intelligence chiefs will be taking part in the discussions. Cameron, on Sunday, hosted a dinner for Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, ahead of the talks at his country retreat Chequers in Buckinghamshire, southeast, England.
Cameron is scheduled to "to discuss the prevention of a Taliban resurgence when foreign troops leave" during the summit. NATO troops are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
"The Prime Minister will host the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan at Chequers today and tomorrow as part of his ongoing efforts to help to strengthen Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, support an Afghan peace and reconciliation process and promote regional peace and stability," the spokesperson said. "For the first time, we will bring together the political and security establishments from both Afghanistan and Pakistan, with foreign ministers, chiefs of army staff, chiefs of intelligence and the chair of the Afghan High Peace Council attending the meeting," he said.
"Discussions are expected to focus on the Afghan-led peace process and how the Pakistanis and international community can support it. We also expect the Afghans and Pakistanis to make further progress on the Strategic Partnership Agreement they committed to in September," he added. Karzai flew to London on Sunday for a three-day trip, during which he would also meet Prince Charles.
(With Additional Inputs from PTI)
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