Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to achieve objectives of regional security

KABUL: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Afghan president Muhammad Ashraf Ghani Friday agreed on achieving the common aim of regional security through connectivity.

They agreed during delegation level talks which were held in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere. Afghan president welcomed the prime minister and members of Pakistani delegation.

Prime Minister Abbasi thanked the Afghan president for the warm hospitality and extended an invitation to president Ghani to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

Mr. Abbasi touched down in Kabul to hold comprehensive dialogue with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah on economic, security and counter-terrorism cooperation.

It is his first visit since becoming prime minister last year, replacing Nawaz Sharif who was ousted from office.

The visit comes against the backdrop of Islamabad’s support for Mr. Ghani’s offer of peace talks with the Taliban.

In March, the Afghan president during a meeting with Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt General (retd) Nasser Janjua had  extended an official invitation to the premier to visit Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office in a statement said “Prime Minister’s visit to Afghanistan is aimed at strengthening the positive momentum in bilateral relations and help augment joint endeavours in the pursuit of durable peace, stability and economic prosperity in the two countries, and the region.”

During the talks, Pakistan would reiterate its stance to continue to support Afghanistan’s developments efforts through capacity building in infrastructure, educational and health sectors in Afghanistan.

In a bid to deepen people to people contacts, the prime minister would discuss with the Afghan leadership ways to facilitate travel between the two countries, assistance in education and medical treatment of Afghan nationals in Pakistan and expand trade and transit facilitation between the two countries.