U.S. special envoy underlines Pakistan's role in Afghan peace

Visiting U.S. Acting Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador David Pearce, met Pakistani foreign secretary and underlined Islamabad' s importance in the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan on Tuesday. Ambassador David Pearce met Pakistani Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed bilateral relations and regional situation including latest the developments in Afghanistan, the foreign ministry said. Both sides exchanged views on furthering bilateral relations under the strategic dialogue process in the coming months, a statement said. Ambassador Pearce briefed the foreign secretary about his recent visit to Afghanistan and appreciated Pakistan's role in supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan. The foreign secretary in his remarks reiterated Pakistan's commitment to remain positively engaged in supporting peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. The meeting comes a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met in Jordan and discussed "reconciliation process in Afghanistan." The army said Monday that Kayani and Kerry discussed Afghan peace process ahead of Kerry's visit to Kabul. The role of Pakistan and the United States is considered important to peace process in war-torn Afghanistan at a time when the NATO forces are packing up. Pakistan is believed to have deep influence on the Afghan Taliban and can play a key role to encourage the Taliban to enter peace process. The Taliban have so far refused to talk to the Afghan government on the plea that it does not have powers to make decisions.