Sharif says Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work closely to bring peace to the region

Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work closely to bring peace to the region, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said today after extended talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Mr Karzai prolonged his visit to Pakistan by a day at Mr Sharif’s request and the two leaders discussed regional security issues in the hill station of Murree. The meeting, which is understood to have focussed on “core and much harder issues”, was also attended by powerful army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work closely to bring peace in the region,” Mr Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office. “We have common challenges and huge opportunities before us. Our security and future prosperity is linked to that of Afghanistan in multiple ways,” he said.