ISLAMABAD - Afghanistan's High Peace Council (HPC) delegation, headed by its Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani, met Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Currently on a three-day trip to Pakistan, the team discussed with the army chief matters of mutual interest, particularly the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

In the afternoon, Rabbani held talks with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Fazlur Rahman, who told reporters his party had always supported efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

In response to the query what role he could play in facilitating talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, he said outsiders could not do anything in this regard. The issue had to be sorted out by the Afghans themselves, he argued.

Zardasht Shams, the Afghan embassy spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the 15-member team would meet President Asif Zardari and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar later in the day.

Following his arrival in Islamabad late on Monday, Salahuddin Rabbani met Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who assured the peace negotiators that Pakistan would do all it could for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Ashraf said there was a consensus in Pakistan that the neighbours should work together for peace in the region. He hoped the delegation would hold fruitful discussions that pave the way for closer relations between the two countries. (Pajhwok)