Afghan spy chief secretly visited Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In an apparent indication of Pakistan and Afghanistan narrowing their strategic differences, the acting head of the Afghan intelligence service, Hassamuddin Hassam, secretly visited Pakistan in December.

His visit took place after a suicide attack on the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief Assadullah Khalid.

The Afghan government had claimed that the attack had been planned in Quetta while President Hamid Karzai accused an unnamed foreign intelligence agency of having masterminded it.

Although Mr Hassam’s visit primarily focused on investigations into the attack on Mr Khalid, it also led to improved bilateral
ties at the military and intelligence levels.

Two Afghan nationals have been arrested by Pakistani authorities in connection with the attack. According to sources, the Afghan spy agency was satisfied by the investigation and cooperation of Pakistan.

Pakistan has positive engagement policy with Afghanistan: FO

* Says country will help all efforts for success of reconciliation process in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has a positive engagement policy with Afghanistan and would help all efforts for success of reconciliation process in the neighbouring country, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Thursday.

Briefing the media after attending a meeting of Senate Defence Committee, Jalil said that all activities, including the Doha peace talks, for restoring peace in the war-torn country are welcomed by Pakistan and it would help all such initiatives. He disclosed that some progress has been made on reconciliation initiatives, as Pakistan being a member of Core Group, which includes US and Afghanistan, is well aware of the developments in this regard.

Replying to a query whether civilians have any say in the policies related to Afghanistan, the foreign secretary said that political leadership is on board and all the decisions are being taken in consultation with all the institutions. On drone attacks by the US on Pakistan’s territory, Jilani said that the country has a clear policy from day one that these drone strikes are illegal and are counter-productive.