Gen Bajwa, Afghan leadership pledge to work for peace in region

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday had a telephonic conversation with the civilian and military leadership of Afghanistan.

According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen. Bajwa called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and Afghan army chief Gen. Qadam Shah Raheem.

Gen Bajwa conveyed best wishes for 2017 and pledged to work together for peace in the region. He said that peace in both countries is in the greater interest of the region. The Afghan leadership invited the COAS for a visit to Afghanistan.

The development comes among tense relations between the two countries, as the Afghan President hurled accusations against Pakistan and rejected an aid package during the recent Heart of Asia conference in India.

Pakistan has also urged Afghan government to eliminate terrorists safe havens in Afghanistan and not get trapped in deceptive plans to foment terrorism in Pakistan.