Clinton discusses Afghan talks with Pakistani PM

Islamabad, June 28, IRNA -- The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, rang up Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday night and both leaders exchanged views on the trilateral core group meeting between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the USA, to be held in Kabul on Tuesday, the PM office said.

The statement said both leaders also discussed the US-Pakistan bilateral relations but did not give further details of the Clinton-Gilani talks.

Marc Grossman, the United States Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, will also attend the Kabul meeting.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan sincerely desires for peace and stability in the region to ensure development and prosperity.

It is in this context, he said, that Pakistan supports the Afghan led reconciliation peace process.

The Prime Minister was talking to Foreign Secretary, Salman Bashir, who sought his guidance on upcoming trilateral core group meeting.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan’s efforts should be to create conducive environment for negotiations leading to a situation acceptable to Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US.

The Foreign Secretary briefed the Prime Minister on the bilateral agreement on joint commission between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which would also held in Kabul after trilateral core group meeting.

He also apprised the Prime Minister on recently concluded Pakistan, India bilateral talks./end