Pakistan and Afghanistan have set up a hotline between their military commanders and made first contact yesterday. Pakistan army spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa said on Twitter, the direct line was agreed during a visit to Kabul by army chief General Raheel Sharif on Sunday.
The visit follows talks between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over recent weeks that sought to pave the way for a Islamabad-brokered peace process between Taliban and Afghan government. Afghanistan sees Pakistan’s support as vital to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.