President Hamid Karzai will soon travel to Pakistan in order to discuss important issues to boost peace talks with Taliban. Afghan embassy has confirmed his upcoming visit of the president. "I can confirm that President Karzai is travelling to Pakistan later this month," Afghanistan's ambassador to Islamabad, Omer Daudzais said. The visit is taking place at a point of time when the relations between the two countries have been strained due to the blame and counter blame game. Karzai will visit Pakistan from August 26 - 28. The leadership of the High Peace Council (HPC), the body created by President Karzai in 2010 to broker peace with the Taliban, will also attend, a spokesman said.
Afghan authorities including President Karzai and HPC leadership have visited Pakistan for the same purpose for several times in the past. During these visits so much has been said on peace and stability in Afghanistan but no or little practical work has been done. The Afghan-Pak ties have going through serious ups and downs in the recent years. That might be because of the high level of expectation of the Afghan government from Pakistan. Despite hefty promises, the Pakistani side is yet to take more practical measures to support peace in Afghanistan.
Pakistan is deemed to have a crucial role in making peace talks happen between Afghan government and the Taliban leadership. According to political analysts, the Taliban leadership is not under the control of Pakistan but even then it can use its influence over them for the reason property, businesses and families of most of Taliban leadership exist in Pakistan. In addition to that traditional and historical relation can also be an instrument to use clout on them.
Pakistan has shown interest and willingness to support the Afghan government in its efforts for ending the war in Afghanistan through table talks with Taliban. During his one-day visit to Kabul last month, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s special adviser on national security and foreign affairs said that Pakistan was willing to help jumpstart long-stalled peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to try to end the more than 12-year war in Afghanistan if the parties request Islamabad's help.
The Afghan government has always stressed over the need of Pakistan’s sincere support in bringing peace to Afghanistan. It would be better if Pakistan government clearly present what kinds of help it can render for development of Afghan peace process in the upcoming visit of President Karzai to Islamabad. The success of this visit will depend upon its practical outcomes.