News - Afghanistan

Afghan Defence Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi is in Pakistan on a five-day official visit to boost counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries, Afghan officials said Monday.

Mohammadi left Kabul Sunday with an Afghan delegation to meet top Pakistani officials and military leaders to discuss topics of national security, including cooperation on defence from insurgents and border coordination.

The six-member delegation will also visit various defence institutions.

Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had extended the invitation to the minister during his visit to Kabul in November last year.

The officials are expected to talk about recent cross-border attacks which have been a source of tension between the two countries in recent months, as well as a "roadmap" for security that Afghanistan has already handed over to Pakistan about the future set-up after the Nato-led military forces withdrawal in 2014, they said.