Pak-Afghan resolve to work for stability and peace in region

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai have emphasized the need for the two countries to sit together at this critical juncture and avoid being distracted by momentary events.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on Feb. 16, 2012. (Photo: Xinhua)

The understanding came during one and one and delegation level talks between the two leaders in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon.

They agreed to work together for further enhancing bilateral interaction and evolving an institutional approach to deal with the common challenges facing the two countries.

The two sides discussed a range of issues including bilateral relations and the regional situation‚ situation in Afghanistan‚ developmental projects in the region‚ Pak-Afghan Transit Trade agreement‚ drug trafficking and border issues.

President Zardari said that Pakistan was pursuing a consistent policy of strengthening Pakistan Afghanistan relations in all spheres as Afghanistan was at the heart of the region with a pivotal role to play in regional economic development.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan has always desired a peaceful‚ stable and prosperous Afghanistan as it was in Pakistan’s own interest and assured continued support to every effort aimed at restoring peace and stability.

The President told his Afghan counterpart that Pakistan has always called upon the international community to support the work for permanent solution to the issues in Afghanistan and that Pakistan was ready to provide all possible assistance to the international community in this regard.

The President hoped that trilateral summit would be a significant step in promoting the agenda of regional peace‚ stability and prosperity.

Mr. Zardari said that connectivity through all available modes would help bolster the mutual trade activities and promoting people to people contacts.

The issues relating to Pak-Afghan Transit Trade also came under discussion during the talks.

The two Presidents agreed upon the need to resolving all issues and removing bottlenecks‚ if any‚ in the way of Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement. The President proposed and underlined the need for working together to extend Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement to the Central Asian countries. This is doable project and would not only benefit the people of the region but also generate huge economic activity in Afghanistan. 

He urged that two sides should accord priority to energy related projects to meet our growing needs and expedite process of development. The President emphasized upon the early implementation of CASA-1000 project‚ TAPI and other infrastructure projects. 

During delegation level talks the President was assisted among others by Ministers for Foreign Affairs‚ Defence‚ Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources. 

The Afghan President was assisted among others by Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul‚ National Security Advisor Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin. 

Pakistan and Afghanistan have also expressed the resolve to work for the stability and peace in the region and strengthen mutual cooperation to overcome the challenges of terrorism and extremism. 

The understanding came during talks between Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Islamabad today that were followed by delegation level talks. 

Both sides reviewed the current developments in and around the region relating to peace and stability. They also discussed bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and commerce‚ infrastructure development‚ regional transit trade and cross border movement. 

The Afghan President expressed his deep sense of gratitude to the government of Pakistan for the assistance in the investigation of assassination of former President Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani. He referred to several initiatives which were currently underway to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.

 President Karzai termed Pakistan’s support as critical to the success of Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process and the reconciliation in the country.

The Afghan President said Pakistan and Afghanistan are twin brothers and therefore should cooperate in the same spirit for the cause of peace and stability in both countries.