U.S. regional envoy arrives in Pakistan for Afghan talks

ISLAMABAD, June 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Special Representative Ambassador James Dobbins arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for talks with Pakistan leaders on Afghan reconciliation process, officials said.

A Foreign Ministry official said that the U.S. envoy will meet senior Pakistani officials to discuss cooperation in the Qatar peace process.

Mr. Dobbins is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the afternoon, the official said.

Ahead of Dobbins visit, the United States has appreciated Pakistan's support for reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The State Department's spokesman Patrick Ventrell talking to newsmen in Washington said the U.S. Special Representative will discuss bilateral cooperation with Pakistani leadership in Islamabad.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman said last week that Islamabad had facilitated the Qatar peace process. However, he had not shared more information with the media.

The U.S. envoy arrived in Islamabad from Kabul where he met President Hamid Karzai and discussed issues relating to the Taliban Qatar office. He also visited Qatar before Kabul and Islamabad trips and had discussed the peace process with the Qatari officials.

Afghan presidential palace said that the U.S. special envoy met President Karzai in the presidential palace and both sides talked about the Taliban office in Qatar. President Hamed Karzai said that he wants a peace process which should be Afghan-led, a statement said late Monday.

Karzai administration had suspended talks over the proposed U.S. -Afghan security agreement, citing 'U.S. contradictions in Afghan peace process.'

Afghan government had refused to join the Qatar process shortly after the Taliban office was formally inaugurated in Doha on June 18.

Afghan officials objected to the hoisting of the Taliban white flag at the Qatar office and using 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' for the office.

The U.S. had earlier announced to hold talks with the Taliban in Qatar however Kabul's objections stalled the process and now efforts are underway to begin the talks.

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