Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to revive high-level joint commission meetings to devise strategies for holding direct negotiations with the Afghan Taliban.
The move comes after the Taliban announced its intention to open a 'political' office in Qatar to conduct peace talks with the United States. he joint commission headed by Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and comprising military and intelligence chiefs from both sides was established in 2011 to facilitate the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and had held its inaugural session in June 2011.
But the process was stalled in September following the assassination of former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who took the initiative to reach out to the Taliban.
A senior Pakistani official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that both countries have overcome their differences, which aided the revival of a joint commission.
The meeting is expected to take place by the end of January or early next month.
Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Basit confirmed that both countries are finalizing venue and dates for the meeting.
He also confirmed that the meeting of the joint economic commission would be held in Islamabad in the third week of January.
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