KABUL (Agencies) Pakistan and Afghanistan have upgraded a joint commission for peace in a bid to end Afghanistans near-decade old insurgency, and have the support of the US for the move, leaders of the two countries said on Saturday. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said he and former Afghan President and High Peace Council chief Burhanuddin Rabbani would lead talks involving the military and intelligence chiefs from both sides of the border for the first time. Todays visit, I believe has been one of the most historical and unprecedented meetings, because all the stakeholders were with us, Gilani said, at a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The original commission was set up in January. Karzai said he had discussed the move with US counterpart Barack Obama during a phone call last week, and the upgraded commission had the full backing of the United States. We welcome the participation of the US in this tripartite arrangement...We have recently seen more interest by the US in the peace process, he told the news conference. But both Gilani and Karzai were keen to emphasise that the peace process would remain Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. President Karzai said: The joint peace commission which used to be at the level of foreign ministers has been upgraded by Pakistan to the highest governmental level. The first tier of commission will now include the chief executives, foreign ministers along with chiefs of the military and intelligence services of the two countries while the second tier will comprise senior officials of foreign ministries, military and intelligence services. I have assured President Karzai that Pakistan strongly supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process for reconciliation and peace, Gilani said. He also extended Pakistans full support to the efforts of President Karzai and the High Peace Council, for initiating an inclusive process of grand national reconciliation in which all Afghans not only have a stake but the process also promises the future peace and stability in their country. We firmly believe that this process must have full Afghan ownership, Prime Minister Gilani said and added that it was for the Afghan nation to determine the parameters on which a reconciliation and peace process would be shaped. Conditions, qualifications or demands at this stage, in our view, may not be helpful, he added. He said that the restoration of stability and peace in Afghanistan was essential for peace, security and well-being of the people of Pakistan. To a question about President Asif Ali Zardaris recent statement wherein he warned that a destabilised Afghanistan could have a negative impact on Pakistan, Gilani said he fully endorsed the views. He said his visit was particularly aimed at working out a common strategy to jointly fight terrorism that was a threat to both the nations. Asked whether the United States (US) was on board regarding the Pak-Afghan talks, Prime Minister Gilani said the US is on-board. Thats our core group and whatever will be decided, will be among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US. President Karzai, while speaking on the tripartite arrangement, said that his country welcomed consultations with the United States in this regard. He said Pakistans role as a facilitator was also important and added that whatever Prime Minister Gilani said was a fundamental shift of Pakistan from its views in the past. We today have clarity, which never existed earlier, Karzai said. Gilani, when asked about al-Qaedas presence in Pakistan, said it is your countrys problem and you have to decide and set parameters. About the role of the United States in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani said whatever is the policy of the US on Afghanistan, Pakistan will support Afghanistan. Gilani also strongly dispelled the notion that terrorists were entering into Afghanistan from Pakistan and said the two countries were already interacting at political, intelligence and defence levels and this cooperation would enhance in the days ahead. Gilani said that he held in-depth consultations with President Karzai on the situation prevailing in the region and various initiatives that were being talked about for promoting reconciliation and peace. I would like to laud the efforts of our Afghan brothers and sisters across length and breadth of Afghanistan to realise their legitimate aspirations for peace and stability. President Karzai described the message from Prime Minister Gilani on the reconciliation process as very clear and important and added that the two sides held detailed talks on all aspects, including the situation in the region and bilateral political, economic and trade relations. Prime Minister Gilani termed the drone attacks counter-productive and added that loss of precious human lives could not be just dismissed as collateral damage. Gilani said similarly, suicide attacks, resulting in loss of innocent lives as well as attacks on places of worship were not only inhuman and barbaric but evidently designed to denigrate Islam and to sow discord among Muslims, communities and societies. The Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the start of the transition process in Afghanistan on March 23 that would eventually lead to withdrawal of all foreign forces. Gilanis delegation includes Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Director General Inter Services Intelligence Ahmed Lt Gen Shuja Pasha and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. Gilani said Afghanistans reconciliation and reintegration efforts with its local factions and groups would lead to the emergence of a sustainable political set-up. Talking to Chairman of the Afghan High Peace Council Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, the Prime Minister said Pakistan believes in pursing harmonious cooperation with Afghanistan in all areas to ensure regions peace and prosperity.