Afghan President Hamid Karzai
will make a two-day visit to Pakistan beginning June 10
against the backdrop of Islamabad's efforts to emerge as a key
player in deciding the future of war-torn Afghanistan after
the US begins withdrawing its troops.
Karzai will visit Pakistan during June 10-11 at the
invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari, said a statement
issued by the Foreign Office.The visit "will contribute to further enhancing
friendship and close cooperative ties between the two
brotherly peoples and countries," the Foreign Office
spokesperson said.Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday said the
inaugural session of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Commission
on Reconciliation is scheduled to be held during Karzai's
visit.The Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement too
will be launched during the visit, he told a delegation of US
Congressmen.Gilani also called for "strategic coherence" among
Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US, who are members of the core
group that is trying to find a political settlement to the
problems of Afghanistan.Pakistan's military has been spearheading efforts to
give the country a key role in deciding the future of
Afghanistan once the US begins withdrawing its troops next
month.Reports have said that Pakistan's civil and military
leadership have urged Karzai to let China play a larger role
in the region following the US troop drawdown. PTI