Pakistan PM, Afghan president discuss counter-terrorism operations

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Monday telephoned Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region.

According to sources, the two also reviewed Pakistan-Afghanistan ties and matters of mutual interest, Geo TV reported.

On Feb 21, President Ghani sought Pakistan's cooperation as Afghanistan planned to lay the groundwork for peace with Taliban insurgents, the latest sign of improving ties between the two nations.

Afghanistan "appreciates Pakistan's recent efforts in paving the ground for peace and reconciliation", Ghani said in a statement.

"We welcome the recent position Pakistan has taken in pronouncing Afghanistan's enemy as Pakistan's."

He cited two major recent attacks as helping to bring the countries closer together -- one in Yahya Khel in Afghanistan in November that left nearly 50 people dead, and a Taliban massacre at a school in the Pakistan city of Peshawar in December that killed 153, mostly children.