ISLAMABAD– US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will resolve the crisis between Afghanistan and Pakistan “very quickly”, as peace talks between the warring neighbors entered their second day.
The two countries are embroiled in a bitter security dispute, with each side saying it was responding to the other’s aggression during clashes earlier this month.
It was the deadliest clash between them in several years, marking a low point in relations while also causing alarm in a region where armed groups such as al Qaeda are trying to re-emerge.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of turning a blind eye to militants crossing the border to carry out attacks, an accusation the country’s Taliban rulers reject.
The second round of conversations between them. started in Istanbul on Saturdayfocusing on transforming a fragile ceasefireaccomplished earlier this month in Dohain a lasting framework for peace and border security.
“I hear Pakistan and Afghanistan have gotten going,” Trump said. outside of ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. “But I will solve it very quickly.”
He made the comments while attending the signing of the peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, adding that Pakistan’s leaders were “great people.”
days of fighting killed dozens of people and injured hundreds in Afghanistan, although Pakistan denied attacking civilians and said it was targeting militants and their hideouts.
On Sunday, the Taliban-controlled RTA outlet reported that after 15 hours of “continuous discussions,” the Afghan side had presented a draft focused on Pakistan not violating Afghanistan’s territory and airspace and not allowing “any anti-Afghan group or opposition to use Pakistani territory against our country.”
There was also an expression of willingness to establish “a four-way channel to monitor the ceasefire agreement” and exchange information on violations, RTA reported.
The Pakistanis presented a second draft to the Afghans on Saturday afternoon, according to the RTA.
No one from the Pakistani government was immediately available for comment. But Trump’s comments are likely to energize the country’s political and military leaders, who want closer ties to the White House.
Pakistan has also praised Trump for his role in defuse a crisis earlier this year with India.
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Associated Press writers Sajjad Tarakzai contributed to this report from Islamabad and Abdul Qahar Afghan from Jalalabad, Afghanistan.