Pakistan, Afghanistan in talks over terror

Pakistan and Afghanistan are negotiating a mechanism to address concerns over terrorism, a media report said on Sunday.

Sartaz Aziz, Adviser on Foreign Affairs to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, disclosed this on Saturday, Dawn News reported.

"Both sides have said that terrorism is a common enemy and both sides agree that there should be cooperation for dealing with this issue. We are holding discussions for a joint mechanism," he said.

"Pakistan has sent its proposals to Afghanistan," he said before holding a telephonic conversation with Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar.

Last week, the Afghan presidency asked Pakistan to implement an agreement on countering terrorism reached during last year's quadrilateral talks also involving the US and China.

Kabul urged Islamabad to act against what it said were Taliban and Haqqani sanctuaries on Pakistani soil.

Aziz hoped the proposed pact of terror could be formalised on the sidelines of the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organisation summit slated to be held in Islamabad on March 1.

--IANS

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