A meeting was held between Afghan, Pakistani and NATO officials on Monday in Kabul to discuss regional security issues.
Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi said that the talks were aimed at overcoming security disputes along the controversial Durand Line that divides eastern Afghanistan from Pakistan. Tensions between Afghan and Pakistani forces on either side of the border have increased recently.
The meeting was attended by Afghan Army Chief Sher Mohammad Karimi, his Pakistani counterpart General Raheel Sharif and the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan General Joseph Dunford.
"In the meeting the head of the Pakistani army said that they were prepared to work jointly against terrorism and for security during the election and peace negotiation process," Gen. Azimi said.
But other members of the Afghan government, including many experts on the issues at hand, were not very optimistic about the trilateral meeting. Without any tangible resolutions being pursued, they said, such a meeting would only be a waste of time.
"Unfortunately, these kinds of meetings have been held several times in many countries, but they never have a positive impact and security issues alongside the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan were not settled," Herat MP Ahmad Behzad said.
Mr. Behzad emphasized the importance of the two South Asian neighbors coming to agreement before involving their foreign allies. "The important thing is that there should be a firm determination first in Afghanistan and Pakistan and later on among the allies of Afghanistan."
Islamabad and Kabul have long been in conflict over the Taliban insurgency, which Afghan officials, backed by a great deal of independent research, have said the Pakistani military and intelligence services nurture. However, as militant violence within Pakistan's own borders rises, leaders in Islamabad have started to express greater interest in furthering peace talks with the insurgent group.
Still, many Afghans remain skeptical about Pakistan's commitment to peace.
"On the one hand, these trilateral meetings are held at times in Pakistan and at times in Afghanistan, but on the other hand, we have witnessed attacks and interference from Pakistan," MP Fawzia Kofi said. "We also saw increase in terrorist attacks particularly during the elections."
"I think the Afghan government must not waste time with these meetings and must not open the door for Pakistani influence," she added.
This is the 37th trilateral meeting that has been held to settle security disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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