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Pakistan, Afghanistan, ISAF to hold trilateral meeting in Pakistan

09 May 2012 22:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Trilateral meeting between military authorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and ISAF is scheduled to take place later this week at the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi, Pakistani army said Wednesday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

It is in continuation of the series of regular meetings held under the Tri Party Commission framework, an army statement said.

"Talks will focus on enhancing efficiency of border coordination measures along the Pakistani-Afghan border and improving multilateral mechanisms at operational and tactical levels," said the statement.

The ISAF delegation will be led by ISAF Commander General John Allen, while Afghan National Army Chief of General Staff General Sher Muhammad Karimi will head the Afghan delegation.

It will be the first meeting following last month’s approval of guidelines by the Pakistani parliament for future relationship with the United Sates and NATO.

The Pakistani parliament recommendations urged an end to the U. S. drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal regions and an unconditional apology for last November’s NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two border posts.

The U.S. has so far refused to stop drone strikes and to tender apology.

The NATO strike had deteriorated the ties between Pakistan and the U.S. after Islamabad responded to the deadly attack by closing NATO supply route.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told parliament that his government would implement the guidelines in "letter and spirit."

The U.S. officials claim that the CIA-controlled drone strikes target al-Qaida and Taliban militants in the tribal regions, but tribesmen insist that civilians are killed in the strikes.