ISLAMABAD - Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met this morning with Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Haysom is stressing the need for the neighbours of Afghanistan to give their full support  to an Afghan-led peace process. He welcomed the recent enhanced bilateral engagement between Afghanistan and Pakistan and recognition of common interests as important to regional stability and increased economic opportunity.
 
During his two-day visit to Pakistan, Mr. Haysom met with several senior Pakistani officials and leaders of political parties as part of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mandated work to support Afghanistan’s regional engagement. Discussions have included assessments of socioeconomic development, security and opportunities for support of reconciliation.
 
This is Mr. Haysom’s first visit to Pakistan as UNAMA's chief. Previously, he visited Islamabad on three occasions as the Deputy Head of UNAMA.