Karzai seeks Pakistan's aid in Afghanistan-Taliban peace process

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged Pakistan to facilitate peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban.

During his visit to Islamabad, Karzai said the Pakistani government could provide opportunities for talks between the Afghan High Peace Council and the militants.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that he wanted to help regional efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.

According to the BBC, Karzai has extended his stay to allow talks with Pakistan to continue.

Three times in his brief speech Karzai said that a joint fight against militancy was needed and he had great hopes from on Sharif, who came back to power in June, the report said.

Afghanistan believes that Taliban safe havens in Pakistan are the main cause of increased violence in the country.

According to the report, Karzai said that he wanted the Pakistani government to play a mediating role with the Taliban, with whom Pakistan has a high degree of influence.

For his part the Sharif said that Pakistan would extend all possible facilities for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the report added.