A meeting between the Chief of Staff of the Afghanistan National Army, the Pakistan army, Uzbekistan’s army and Kazakhstan’s army, along with the Commander of Resolute Support Mission Gen. John Nicholson, was held on Tuesday in Kabul.

The meeting was hosted by Resolute Support Mission, and focused on the fight against insurgency and drug trafficking.

Kabul officials meanwhile said they hope concerns about security challenges will shared with Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa.

“Discussions will be held on how to jointly combat terrorism and drug smuggling and to find a solution to the issue and this is good for Afghanistan,” said MoD spokesman Dawlat Waziri. 

“Cooperation by the central Asian countries will help us in restoring durable peace,” said CEO spokesman Mujiburrahman Rahimi. 

In addition, the Presidential Palace said President Ashraf Ghani met with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan’s army chiefs and said their visit to Afghanistan will open a new era for cooperation in the military sector between the three countries. 

It is not clear if Pakistan’s army chief will meet with Afghan authorities separately or not.

“They must no longer continue their terror activities by using religion and the sanctuaries. The Afghan government must force Pakistan to end this approach,” said Ahmad Dawar Nadi, head of Afghanistan Peace Association (APA). 

The meeting is expected to run over two days. 

Participating countries - especially Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – recently voiced their concern over the growing number of insurgents in the north of Afghanistan. 

But NATO said it has targeted Taliban and other insurgents the region – conducting a barrage of air strikes against them in the past two weeks.