Kerry hopeful after meeting with Afghan, Pakistani leaders

• Tweet

BRUSSELS, April 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reported progress following a meeting with Afghan and Pakistani leaders on relaunching talks between the two countries.

After a three-hour meeting Wednesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels involving Kerry, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani military chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, Kerry said he was "not going to raise expectations or promise results that can't be delivered."

Speaking at a post-meeting press conference, Kerry told reporters the dialogue would continue to find a way to work together on peace negotiations with the Taliban.

The meeting came amid a new round of accusations between the Afghanistan and Pakistan governments, and rising anxiety over the upcoming departure of U.S. troops from the region, the Washington Post reported.

Afghanistan has charged Pakistan with publicly saying it favors talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government while privately keeping the Taliban away from the negotiating table. Pakistan insists it does not control the Taliban, but fears post-withdrawal chaos will undermine its own security, the newspaper said.