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Pakistan, Afghanistan committed not to let their soils used against each other: PM
Nawaz says parliamentary exchanges are very useful in bringing people of two countries closerAPP
ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are committed not to allow their territories to be used against each other.
“Our two countries want to make this region peaceful, progressive and prosperous,” the prime minister said while talking to a 18-member delegation of Afghanistan’s parliament here at the PM’s House. The delegation comprising members from Meshrano Jirga and Wolesi Jirga, was jointly led by Abdul Qader Zazai, International Affairs Commission Chairman Wolesi Jirga and Senator Baz Mohammad Zormati. The delegation is in Islamabad to attend the 12th session of the dialogue between parliamentarians of Pakistan and Afghanistan, arranged by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT).
The prime minister said that a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s vital interest. He mentioned the visit of President Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan and the London Conference on Afghanistan and said that the two countries were committed to transform mutual relationship. He said that special focus would be laid on four areas including enhanced political engagement, deeper security and counter terrorism cooperation; expanded trade and economic partnership, and regional cooperation.
He thanked the Afghan government and people for their support and solidarity after the Peshawar terrorist attack. He said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb had dismantled terrorist network and their infrastructure. He said that the people of Afghanistan live in the hearts of Pakistanis. “Afghanistan is very close to my heart and I have fond memories of the place,” he said, and added that he was longing to see the same Kabul that used to be in 60s and 70s and wanted peace and tranquillity to return to the country. He said that parliamentary exchanges were very useful in bringing the people of two countries closer. The Afghan delegation strongly condemned the attack at school in Peshawar and said that peace was in the best interest of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
They said that Afghanistan values Pakistan’s commitment towards lasting peace. The delegation also invited the prime minister to visit Afghanistan at his convenience. The meeting agreed that exchanges between the two countries may also include provincial legislators. From Pakistan side, the meeting was attended by Adviser on National Security Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, PM's political secretary Dr Asif Kirmani, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Afrasiab Khattak and MNA Aftab Sherpao.
The members of the Afghan delegation included Senators (Meshrano Jirga): Mohammad Hassan Hotak, Fowzea Saadat Zamkhanai, Mir Bahador Wasifi, Ghulam Mohaiudin Monsef, Rana Tareen and Lutfullah Baba. The members of Afghan Parliament (Wolesi Jirga) included Ali Akbar Qasemi, Qudratullah Zaki, Gul Badshah Majidi, Sayed Nader Shah Bahr, Mohammad Nazir Ahmadzai, Zakaria Zakaria, Baz Mohammad Jawzjani and Sherwali Wardak.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk