Kerry to host Afghan, Pakistan talks in Brussels this week

4/22/2013

BRUSSELS — A senior American official says U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will host a meeting of top Afghan and Pakistani officials this week in Brussels to discuss reconciliation with the Taliban and other issues.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his defense minister, along with Pakistan’s military chief and foreign minister, will attend Wednesday’s meeting, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting has yet to be formally announced.

Kerry is in Brussels to attend a NATO foreign ministers meeting on Tuesday. He will also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and various European officials.