Karzai to visit Pakistan for top-level talks

PAKISTAN: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is scheduled to visit Islamabad for top-level talks Thursday aimed at strengthening ties between the neighbours, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

"I can confirm that Mr Karzai is coming to Pakistan on a short visit tomorrow (Thursday)," foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told AFP on Wednesday.

"Mr Karzai will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani," he said.

"It is part of our democratic government's efforts to enhance our relations with Afghanistan in all areas."

Karzai's visit comes with the United States conducting a massive review of policy in the regional fight against Islamist extremists in South Asia.

Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have been invited to contribute to the review.

US President Barack Obama has decided to send 17,000 more soldiers to fight an escalating Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan, where government officials demanded that the new troops deploy along the porous Pakistan border.

ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, AFP