US, Pakistan, Afghanistan officials hold trilateral meeting

Senior officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States met in Islamabad to discuss the peace-making efforts with the Taliban.
The core group of the three countries was formed in May this year to push the reconciliation process forward in Afghanistan.
The trilateral meeting took place in the backdrop of simmering tensions between Pakistan and the United States. Relations between the two countries were further strained last month when Washington withheld $800 million in military assistance to Pakistan after Islamabad expelled the American military trainers and restricted the movement of CIA operatives in the country.
At a joint news conference, the Afghan deputy foreign minister said lasting peace in his country is not possible without help.
His remarks highlight frustration on part of Kabul over the slow pace of reconciliation process apparently due to tensions between Pakistan and the US.
Pakistan and the US also appear to have differences on the issue of peace-making with the Taliban.
Islamabad insists that it is being deliberately kept out of the process by Washington to undermine its role in Afghanistan.
Analysts believe that the row between Islamabad and Kabul may complicate the matters in Afghanistan.

This was the forth meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US in last three months but the three countries have so far made little progress towards achieving any tangible results.