Afghanistan: New Pakistan government offers opportunity

A senior Afghan official says the prospect of a strong new government after last weekend's elections in Pakistan represents a good opportunity to improve cooperation between the two neighbours, which have long had uneasy relations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin spoke at the opening today of a meeting of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan and Pakistan, a group of more than 50 countries and organisations including the US and European nations.

Ludin complained that Kabul's "modest expectations" of cooperation from Pakistan have frequently been frustrated and said there's a "need for serious reflection and soul-searching" in Afghan-Pakistani relations.

He said that "the formation of a strong democratic government in Pakistan presents a good opportunity for the opening of yet another chapter of dialogue and cooperation between our two countries.