Islamabad - The United States and Pakistan Tuesday discussed host of crucial issues concerning Afghanistan, diplomatic sources said. 
They told The Nation that US Ambassador Richard Olson held a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister’s Adviser Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Office and exchanged views with him on Afghanistan.
According to the sources, Aziz informed the US envoy of his Sunday’s visit to Kabul and his meetings with various Afghan leaders, including President Hamid Karzai.
“Ambassador Olson met with Sartaj Aziz today and they discussed regional issues,” US Embassy spokesperson Meghan Gregonis confirmed to The Nation without elaborating on the regional issues.
On the other hand, informed sources maintained the two notables also discussed various proposals on Afghanistan with special focus on how to push forward the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
The sources said US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador James Dobbins is expected to visit Islamabad during this week to discuss crucial issues relating to Afghanistan.
On the proposed visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry, sources said, Ambassador Olson discussed the issue with Sartaj Aziz, a claim denied by the US Embassy spokesperson. This issue did not figure during their meeting,” she said.
Apparently, the proposed visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Pakistan on July 28 seems to have been delayed largely for mutual agenda both Washington and Islamabad had to agree first.
John Kerry, who is regarded in Pakistan as one of the best friends of Islamabad, was originally scheduled to visit Pakistan in June but his visit was slated for July 28 because of his engagements in the Middle East.
The July 28 date came after his recent meeting with Prime Minister’s adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at ASEAN regional forum held in Brunei. Both the leaders vowed to rebuild bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States based on mutual respect and mutual interest.
Some sources maintained that US Secretary of State would not visit before the end of the holy month of Ramazan or soon after the presidential elections in Pakistan. However, credible diplomatic sources told The Nation that John Kerry would not visit Pakistan until Islamabad and Washington mutually worked out an agenda, a very crucial issue as suggested by the sources that included Pakistan’s demand to bring an end to the US drone strikes in Pakistan.
The sources further said Pakistan was also seeking free access to the US markets, US investment in Pakistan as well as establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Fata in a bid to do away with poverty and extremism, the root causes of terrorism.
On the US side, Washington that recognises Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror wants to have deep cooperation with Islamabad on fighting terrorism and extremism, safe exit of US/ Nato troops and equipment through Pakistan and establishment of peace in Afghanistan before the April presidential elections through reconciliation with Taliban.
Pakistan, despite heavy toll and economic meltdown in the course of war on terror, has been supporting Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process in the interest of peace and stability and has been facilitating peace efforts to Doha process that unfortunately fizzled out because of objection of the Afghan government about hoisting of Taliban flag and their organisation’s name at the Doha office.
Pakistan on its part is making all-out efforts for the resumption of Doha process so that peace talks could start without any further delay.