Afghanistan leadership invites Pakistan Army chief on visit

Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah invited new Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to visit the country, the media wing of the Pakistani military said.

The invitation was extended by the Afghan leadership during a telephone conversation with General Bajwa, according to a statement by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor, Dunya News reported on Saturday.

Gen. Ghafoor added that the call was made by General Bajwa on the eve of the New Year.

"#COAS called Afghan President, Chief Executive Officer & Army Chief on telephone. Conveyed best wishes for 2017 & pledged to work together for peace in the region," Gen. Ghafoor said in a Twitter post.

The latest conversation between the new Pakistani Army chief and the Afghan leaders came as relations between the two countries have been witnessing an all-time low during the recent months.

The Afghan officials have not commented on the report so far.

Afghanistan has long been criticising Pakistan for its reluctance to act against the terrorist groups using its soil to plan and coordinate attacks in the region, including the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network. The Afghan officials believe these groups have leadership councils based in the main cities of Pakistan.

--IANS

soni/vt