Friday, February 17, 2012

Pakistan cautions Kabul on Taliban peace hopes

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, right, invites visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai for talks upon his arrival at Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Karzai arrived in Pakistan for talks on how Islamabad can facilitate peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, right, invites visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai for talks upon his arrival at Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Karzai arrived in Pakistan for talks on how Islamabad can facilitate peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, left, shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Karzai arrived in Pakistan for talks on how Islamabad can facilitate peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, left, arrives with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, center, at Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Pakistan for bilateral talks on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Karzai arrived in Pakistan for talks on how Islamabad can facilitate peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, arrives with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the prime minister's house in Islamabad, Pakistan for bilateral talks on Thursday, Feb 16, 2012. Karzai has arrived in Pakistan for talks on how Islamabad can facilitate peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, fourth from left, talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, right, at the prime minister's house in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb 16, 2012. Karzai has arrived in Pakistan for talks on how Islamabad can facilitate peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

(AP) ? Pakistan's foreign minister has cautioned Afghanistan that it would be "preposterous" to expect Islamabad to deliver Taliban leader Mullah Omar for peace talks.

Hina Rabbani Khar spoke Friday after talks between the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan about what Islamabad could do to help the peace process.

Pakistan is seen as key because many of the Taliban's leaders, including Omar, are believed to be based on its territory.

Khar says Afghanistan has not explained how exactly Kabul wants Islamabad to help. Her remarks suggest little progress had been made in the meetings in the Pakistani capital.

She said that if Kabul has "unrealistic, almost ridiculous expectations," then there is no "common ground to begin with."

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? The Afghan president says "impediments" in ties between Kabul and Islamabad must soon be removed so that progress can be made in peace talks to end the war in Afghanistan.

Hamid Karzai says the two countries need to resolve these problems "sooner rather than later." He did not elaborate.

Karzai spoke Friday after talks with Pakistan's civilian and military leaders aimed at trying to secure their cooperation in bringing Afghan Taliban leaders ? who are believed to be in Pakistan ? to the negotiating table.

The U.S. is backing talks with the Taliban, but mistrust on all sides is hampering the process.

Karzai gave little indication of progress, saying all sides still need to formulate a policy and "actually act upon it."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-02-17-AS-Pakistan/id-e72ffa72e66944fa9d571e92a04c8bfe

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