Pak-Afghan relations are improving: PM Nawaz

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AFP
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Pak-Afghan relations are improving: PM Nawaz
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that relations with Afghanistan had undergone qualitative transformation since the government took over last year.

The Prime Minister expressed these views in a meeting with Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Janan Mosazai here at the PM House.

The PM said Pakistan hopes that the process of peace talks within Afghanistan would speed up and reach a successful conclusion soon.

He expressed satisfaction over the increased security cooperation between the two countries and said the recent visit of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif proved quite helpful in streamlining important matters.

He was also pleased over the first meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Business Council that would be taking place in the next few weeks to attract international investors to both countries.

PM Nawaz approved of the appointment of a focal person for following up implementation on the decisions taken during inter-ministerial meetings with Afghanistan on daily basis.

A similar focal person would be appointed from the Afghan side as well, a PM Office statement said.

Referring to the loss of lives due to the recent avalanche in Afghanistan, the PM said Pakistan stands with its brotherly neighbouring country in this hour of need and added that he was deeply concerned upon learning about the devastating incident.

He said Pakistan would be happy to provide any further assistance to help the people of Afghanistan meet this challenging situation.

The Ambassador thanked the government of Pakistan for providing generous support to Afghanistan in the form of relief supplies in the wake of the destruction caused by the avalanches.

He also thanked the Prime Minister for sending a message of solidarity to the President of Afghanistan on this hour of grief.

The Ambassador said Afghanistan was highly appreciative of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision of peaceful coexistence with all neighbouring countries.

He informed the PM that there was a strong domestic consensus in Afghanistan on peace efforts these days.

The matters relating to Afghan Transit Trade and CASA 1000 power transmission project also came under discussion.

The Ambassador also conveyed best wishes of the President of Afghanistan to PM Nawaz.