Afghan FM is optimistic of much better cooperation Pakistan

Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul said Thursday he is optimistic that Pakistan’s new government is serious about cooperation and confident the Taliban will not make a comeback.

Rassoul said Kabul was encouraged by recent talks with Islamabad.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was in Pakistan for two days last week and met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the first time since Sharif’s election in May.

“Stability in Pakistan cannot be achieved without stability in Afghanistan. That is something that is finally, I hope, understood by Pakistan,” Rassoul said.

Elements of the Pakistani state are widely accused of funding, controlling and sheltering the Taliban. Islamabad says it will do anything to stop the fighting in Afghanistan

Rassoul said Kabul was “reasonably hopeful” of “much better cooperation” with the new Pakistani government.