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Saturday, November 12, 2011
Pakistan assures full support in Afghan reconciliation process* Gilani, Karzai agree to enhance cooperation to ensure peace, security and stability in region
* PM pledges full cooperation to Rabbani murder investigation commission
ADDU: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani assured full support to the Afghan peace process on Friday while emphasising that reconciliation and reintegration in Afghanistan have to be entirely Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and part of a domestic political process.
Gilani held an hour-long meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the newly built Shangrila Resort on the sidelines of 17th SAARC summit and discussed bilateral relations, situation in the region and SAARC affairs. The two countries agreed to further enhance and cooperate with each other to ensure peace, security and stability in the region.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Communications Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babur Ghauri and other officials of Foreign Office also attended the meeting from Pakistan side. Talking to newsmen along with President Karzai, Prime Minister Gilani said the democratic government in Pakistan has made unprecedented efforts to improve its relations with Afghanistan since 2008.
The prime minister said that Pakistan is prepared to work in a cooperative mode with Afghanistan and other international partners to promote the shared objectives of stability and peace in Afghanistan. While referring to the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, the premier termed it a setback to the peace and reconciliation process and added that Pakistan will extend full cooperation to the recently constituted joint investigation commission to probe the murder.
While replying to a question, President Karzai assured that the strategic agreement between Afghanistan and India is not against Pakistan or any other country in the region. He said it will help to promote education and development in Afghanistan. “We fully understand that instability in Pakistan can not be source of stability in Afghanistan and vice versa,” he noted.
Gilani said the challenges have to be addressed through concerted efforts. “We need to sincerely commit not to allow our respective national territories to be used for activities detrimental to each others interests,” he said. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk