Kerry, Pakistani PM agree to work for Afghan peace

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday and both sides agreed to work together for peace and stability in Afghanistan and move forward Afghan reconciliation process. The two leaders held one-on-one meeting which was later on joined by the respective delegations, state radio reported. "Both sides discussed in length Afghan situation besides other regional issues including the post-2014 scenario," Radio Pakistan said. They also discussed the whole gamut of Pakistan-U.S. ties and emphasized the need to further promote relations in different fields including education, energy and social sector. The U.S. delegation included Special Representative on Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson. Earlier Kerry held a meeting with Advisor on National Security Sartaj Aziz at the foreign office and discussed bilateral issues besides regional situation with particular reference to Afghanistan. Kerry, who is the first senior American official to visit Pakistan since the new Sharif government assumed office in June, arrived in Islamabad late Wednesday to review prospects of future relationship with Pakistan. The Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan will raise the issue of controversial U.S. drone attacks in the country's tribal regions. U.S. officials in Washington were quoted as saying that the Secretary of State will reinforce Washington's continuing commitment to Pakistan during his visit. A statement released by State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki in Washington said Kerry is in Pakistan "for consultations with the newly elected civilian government and to reinforce the United States' continuing commitment to the Pakistani people."