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PM David Cameron hosts Afghan-Pakistan talks in UK Afghanistan and Pakistan aim for 'peace in six months'
(about 1 hour later)
  
UK PM David Cameron has been hosting key talks on the future of Afghanistan with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari have said they will work towards a peace deal for Afghanistan within six months.
The talks have focused both on the Afghan peace process and on Afghan-Pakistan security co-operation. Speaking in Britain, after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, they said they would "take all necessary measures" to achieve such a goal.
It is the third round of discussions since Mr Cameron instigated the trilateral process last year. They backed the opening of an Afghan office in Doha and urged the Taliban to do the same for talks to take place.
Foreign ministers, military leaders and intelligence chiefs are attending the talks for the first time. The two men reaffirmed their aim to work towards a strategic partnership.
Nato troops are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. They said they hoped to sign an agreement strengthening ties on economic and security issues, including trade and border management, later in the year.
Overcoming mistrust The talks - held at the UK prime minister's Chequers country retreat north of London - is the third round of discussions since Mr Cameron instigated the trilateral process last year.
At a news conference with Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari, Mr Cameron said "an unprecedented level of co-operation" had been agreed between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Speaking at Chequers, the UK prime minister's country retreat north of London, Mr Cameron also called on the Taliban to take part directly in peace talks.
He said: "This should lead to a future where all Afghans can participate peacefully in that country's political process."
It is worth noting that senior military and diplomatic chiefs are present at this meeting. They have not been at previous talks. On the Afghan side, everyone is admitting that Pakistan has taken positive steps.It is worth noting that senior military and diplomatic chiefs are present at this meeting. They have not been at previous talks. On the Afghan side, everyone is admitting that Pakistan has taken positive steps.
Senior officials point to the release of key Taliban leaders from prison, including former ministers - freeing them up to take part in a nascent peace process. But what they would really like to see is the release of Mullah Baradar - the Taliban's former second-in-command.Senior officials point to the release of key Taliban leaders from prison, including former ministers - freeing them up to take part in a nascent peace process. But what they would really like to see is the release of Mullah Baradar - the Taliban's former second-in-command.
Foreign ministers, military leaders and intelligence chiefs attended the talks for the first time.
Nato troops are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Ahead of Nato's departure from Afghanistan, Pakistan does not want a repeat of the 1989 pullout by Soviet forces, which left Kabul in the hands of what it regarded as "unfriendly" forces. It fears this may extend Indian influence to its western border.Ahead of Nato's departure from Afghanistan, Pakistan does not want a repeat of the 1989 pullout by Soviet forces, which left Kabul in the hands of what it regarded as "unfriendly" forces. It fears this may extend Indian influence to its western border.
Pakistanis want a secure Afghan border, an end to the Balochistan insurgency which they blame on militants active in Afghanistan, and co-ordinated action against anti-Pakistan guerrillas in both countries.Pakistanis want a secure Afghan border, an end to the Balochistan insurgency which they blame on militants active in Afghanistan, and co-ordinated action against anti-Pakistan guerrillas in both countries.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague earlier said that the goal was to help the two nations "build closer co-operation around their common interest in a secure future". Overcoming mistrust
As part of the process, Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari have agreed to work together on a framework of co-operation following the international troops' departure next year. At a news conference with Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari, Mr Cameron said "an unprecedented level of co-operation" had been agreed between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
With the Nato withdrawal looming, Mr Karzai has told the BBC he does not want a repeat of the mistakes made when Russia withdrew from Afghanistan a quarter of a century ago, plunging the country into civil war. The discussions had centred on both the Afghan-led peace process and on strengthening co-operation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.
Overcoming mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan remains a central issue, BBC World Affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge reports. The joint statement said all sides had agreed on the urgency of the Afghan peace process and "committed themselves to take all necessary measures to achieve the goal of a peace settlement over the next six months".
The Afghan government has made it clear that it views the recent freeing by Pakistan of a number of Taliban prisoners as positive, he says. They called on the Taliban to open an office in Doha "to enter into dialogue" with the Afghan government, which has also set up a base in the Qatari city to conduct peace negotiations.
President Karzai and President Zardari also "re-affirmed their commitments" to signing a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), to encourage closer ties.
Overcoming mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan remains a central issue, says BBC World Affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge.
The Afghan government has made it clear that it views the recent release by Pakistan of a number of Taliban prisoners as positive, he says.
But it still wants the release of the former second-in-command of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Baradar, in the hope that a senior figure like him could influence the Taliban to engage in talks with Kabul.But it still wants the release of the former second-in-command of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Baradar, in the hope that a senior figure like him could influence the Taliban to engage in talks with Kabul.
For the first time, the trilateral talks include military and intelligence chiefs from both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Officials believe this could help in tackling some of the most sensitive issues to do with reconciliation efforts, our correspondent says.
Mr Karzai told the BBC's Pashto Service that Afghan people should take the initiative for peace into their own hands.
"As neither the communist government, nor the mujahedeen brought peace and security to the country, if we do not carefully manage our peace process the way we did not in the past, we will not achieve stability or security," Mr Karzai said.
The first two rounds of the trilateral talks were held in Kabul and New York last year.The first two rounds of the trilateral talks were held in Kabul and New York last year.