Security Situation In Afghanistan Remains Difficult: NATO Chief

Much hope has been heaped on a new effort led by the U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has reportedly held talks with Taliban representatives on several occasions.

US President Trump, in a letter to PM Imran Khan couple of days ago, had asked for Islamabad's help in ending Afghan conflict and bringing Taliban leadership to the negotiating table.

The premier turned down the impression of a Twitter war with US President Donald Trump, asserting that he tweeted in response to the US President to set the record right.

The renewed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commitment came in a week when the Marine officer nominated to command US forces in the Middle East warned that the fight there is at a stalemate and the number of Afghan troop deaths in the war is not sustainable. "There are no sanctuaries in Pakistan".

Imran Khan said it is the vindication of his view point about seeking a political settlement in Afghanistan through dialogue with all the stakeholders including Taliban.

Over 2,400 USA soldiers have perished in Afghanistan during the protracted conflict, a number that is closing in on the death toll from the attacks of September 11, 2001, which prompted the US' invasion. The US has satellites and drones. "These people crossing would be seen", he added.

"Pakistan has always played an active role to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and it is a matter of great satisfaction that the United States has recognised Islamabad's contribution to this effect", the prime minister was reported as saying. "We will do everything".

"I am also happy that for the first time the United States has recognised what we [PTI] have been saying for the past 15 years that there can not be a military solution to the Afghan war", he said. If you did not agree with the US policy, you were [thought to be] anti-American.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001 when al-Qaeda hijacked four U.S. airliners and flew two of them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and a third one into the Pentagon building in northern Virginia.

"We are hopefully at a pre-negotiation stage, and there are some elements trying to improve their bargaining position by trying to make military progress", he said. It not only cost us human lives, devastation of our tribal areas, but it also cost us our dignity. We want a similar relationship with the U.S, he went on to say.

It's a trade relationship between two countries.

The Trump administration, in the recent months, has intensified its efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of America's longest war in Afghanistan where the U.S. has lost over 2,400 soldiers since late 2001, when it invaded the country after the 9/11 terror attacks.

On killing of Al-Qaeda Chief Osama bin Laden, he said "most Pakistanis felt deeply humiliated that we were not trusted, implying that we were complicit in it". "We do not want to have conditions imposed on us which would cause more unemployment and inflation".

"If someone's religious sites are in Pakistan then we should facilitate them".