NYT: Kerry to Host Afghans and Pakistanis

[beachmom]

I admire our new Secretary of State's ambition.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/world/asia/john-kerry-to-host-afghans-and-pakistanis.html

RUSSELS — Secretary of State John Kerry will host a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday with top Afghan and Pakistani leaders to try to foster cooperation over the stalled reconciliation process with the Taliban and other thorny issues, American and Afghan officials said Monday.

...

President Hamid Karzai and Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi will represent the Afghan side. Pakistan will be represented by Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Army chief, and Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan’s foreign secretary.

“This is the year of transition,” Mr. Kerry told a gathering of American diplomats here, referring to NATO’s plans to progressively hand over the responsibility for security by the end of 2014. “This is the critical year in Afghanistan.”

[karynnj]

1. Same here

In this case, with the coalition leaving in 2014, this is a necessity. I hope that subsequent meetings include India - though 3 parties at odds with each other may be more than anyone can see. However, given the past between Pakistan and Afghanistan - where Pakistan is said to have backed the Taliban - maybe to get an anti-India Afghanistan as much as anything, there is a need to consider that balance of power as well.

It is interesting that he has gotten people that powerful to meet with each other.

I saw one other interesting thing that Kerry did in Turkey. He met with the head of the Eastern Orthodox church. http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/04/207814.htm

[MBS]

2. I do, too

He seems to be very much in the mode of "let's just get the job done.
It's also a tribute to his commitment and competence, and to the respect given him by world leaders, that he can make this happen at all.
I wish he could be cloned and staff several cabinet and white house positions.
(I wouldn't wish for him to be back in the Senate, though, unless there could be at least 80 clones of him to replace the idiots and the wimps.The Senat just seems to get worse and worse, and ever more shameless, with every passing week).