Afghan president arrives in Pakistan for bilateral matters

Afghan president arrives in Pakistan for bilateral matters Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad on a two-day state visit on Wednesday for talks on bilateral matters, focusing on his fresh peace initiative and however security issues, official and diplomatic sources said.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Basit told weekly press briefing last week that the Afghan president will discuss his peace plan with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad's visit.

Karzai will hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and both leaders will hold a joint press conference after talks in Islamabad, official sources said. He will also meet Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

Analysts said that Karzai wants to take Pakistani leadership into confidence on the developments taking place in the process of talks with the Taliban.

Both sides will explore ways to expand cooperation in different fields, to further strengthen strategy against terrorism, enhance economic cooperation in political and cultural fields, the Afghan embassy said.