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Friday, June 25, 2010
Pakistan wants early Afghan transit trade agreement* Zalmai Rasoul, Qureshi agree to enhance bilateral relations in politics, trade and economics and other fields
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants finalisation of the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement as soon as possible, which is currently circulating around $1.5 billion and should increase to $5 billion until 2015, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday.
The FM was addressing a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul at the Foreign Office.
After his meeting with the Afghan foreign minister, Qureshi told reporters that both countries had agreed to enhance ties in politics, trade, economy and other fields.
“Peace and security cannot be achieved through military means alone in Afghanistan, and political reconciliation and economic plans are equally necessary for a peaceful Afghanistan,” he added.
He said they had a very useful and constructive meeting and mutually agreed to find ways and means to enhance cooperation in different fields. He said they discussed regional security, especially the efforts of the Afghan government to ensure stability in Afghanistan through reconciliation and reviewed bilateral relations.
Qureshi said peace and security in Afghanistan is important for Pakistan, therefore, it has sincerely offered assistance, cooperation and training facilities to Afghanistan in all fields.
He said Pakistan has offered training to the Afghan military so that a well-trained Afghan Army can take over the responsibility of the security in their country.
He said the two sides discussed the refugees’ issue and two other projects – the electricity project between Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan and the gas-pipeline project between Turkmenistan, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
However, the Afghan FM said relations between the two countries have been improving, adding that he discussed taking measures for real implementation of past agreements with his counterpart.
To a question about the Afghan policy of reconciliation and integration, Rassoul said the Taliban who did not have any links with al Qaeda, who surrender arms and follow the Afghan constitution, could be reconciled into the mainstream. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk