Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Afghanistan to hold talks on Taliban insurgency

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Kabul to hold talks with top Afghan officials as the neighbours are poised to discuss regional stability.

The day-long visit comes as Pakistan is reeling under a growing Islamist insurgency staged by Tehreek-e-Taliban. Sharif is being accompanied by top military chiefs and other government authorities.

A delegate-level meeting is already under way and Sharif is expected to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani shortly.

This is Sharif's second visit to Afghanistan as prime minister and the first since the newly-elected government took over in Kabul. The Pakistani delegation was welcomed by Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi.

"High-level exchanges between the two countries are frequent and the objective of these visits is to promote relations between the two countries, promote better understanding and see where both the countries can cooperate further," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Khalilullah Qazi told reporters.

The inreasing militancy by Taliban Islamists is likely to dominate the agenda as both sides are keen to curb attacks on either side of the porous border.

Ahead of his Afghan visit, Sharif also chaired a high-level security meeting in Islamabad to discuss bilateral relations.

"It was reiterated to consolidate and further improve bilateral relations between the two neighbouring brotherly countries," the PM's office said after the meeting.

The Pakistani premier will also meet Afghan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah during his trip. His visit has come at the invitation of Ghani.

The Afghan government is currently pursuing peace negotiations with Taliban militants with no significant progress as yet. Pakistani negotiators are also believed to be playing a key role in moderating the talks.