07-02-2010, 01:01 PM
ISLAMABAD (July 02 2010): Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani Wednesday denied organising secret meetings in Kabul between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a senior al Qaeda-linked militant. Kayani's brief statement came days after a media report claimed that he and the head of Pakistani intelligence services facilitated a meeting between Karzai and Sirajuddin Haqqani, who heads the Haqqani network.
"General Ashfaq Kayani has said that during his last two visits to Kabul, he met President Karzai to discuss issues of mutual interest," the military said in a statement. It quoted Kayani as saying that on both these occasions, recently-sacked Nato commander General Stanley McChrystal was also present. The statement, however, did not specify when the meetings took place. "This transparent trilateral engagement augurs well for the comfort level of the leadership of all prime stake holders and strengthens the existing relationship," Kayani said.
"General Ashfaq Kayani has said that during his last two visits to Kabul, he met President Karzai to discuss issues of mutual interest," the military said in a statement. It quoted Kayani as saying that on both these occasions, recently-sacked Nato commander General Stanley McChrystal was also present. The statement, however, did not specify when the meetings took place. "This transparent trilateral engagement augurs well for the comfort level of the leadership of all prime stake holders and strengthens the existing relationship," Kayani said.