Afghan President Ghani to meet PM Nawaz today

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will hold talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif in the federal capital on Saturday (today) and the pair are expected to watch a friendly cricket match between the two countries today in a public demonstration of better relations.

Afghan President’s two-day trip is aimed at rebuilding damaged ties and eradicating suspicions between the two countries. Foreign Office Spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said discussions between Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be wide-ranging.

“Peace and stability, everything to do with bilateral cooperation, political engagement, economic cooperation, the training programme - everything is on the table,” she said.

Ghani has sought a larger role for China as a mediator in peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. China enjoys good relations with both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Aslam said Pakistan welcomes an expanded role for China and is awaiting any requests from the Afghan government that might help kick-start the moribund Afghan peace process.

One of Pakistan´s chief concerns is the growing influence of India in Afghanistan as Nato troops pull out this year. India has trained hundreds of Afghan security officers under a bilateral agreement.

Earlier this month, the Pakistani military offered a brigade-level training package to the Afghan military. Such offers have been made before, but the Afghans declined amid suspicions that Pakistan was sheltering Afghan insurgents.

During his meeting with Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi on Friday, Ghani asserted that Afghanistan needed cooperation from Pakistan in managing its porous border and training its army. He also assured Afghan cooperation in jointly curbing the menace of terrorism. The ISPR stated that the Afghan delegation was given a detailed briefing on the security situation on the Pak-Afghan border.

Later, the Afghan president addressed business leaders from both nations and stressed the need for joint efforts to boost the regional economy, including through infrastructure projects.

On Friday, Ghani arrived at Chaklala air base in Rawalpindi and was greeted by Adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Ghani appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to fight terrorism and the sacrifices rendered by the nation.

A contingent of the Pakistan Army presented a guard of honour to the visiting Afghan president. The Afghan president inspected the guard of honour along with the army chief. He laid a floral wreath on the Martyrs Monument and offered Fateha for them.

At the outset, national anthems of the two countries were also played. Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Defence Secretary Lieutenant General (R) Alam Khattak and DG ISI Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar were also present during the talks at GHQ.

Besides other senior ministers, Afghan President was accompanied by Defence Minister General Bismillah Muhammadi, Afghan Chief of General Staff, General Sher Muhammad Karimi and senior Afghan security officials.

Diplomats say that Ghani´s presidency offers a major opportunity at a time when US-led Nato troops are withdrawing from the fight against the Taliban. The Taliban, who dismissed the Afghan election as a US plot, have often said they will fight on until all foreign troops have left Afghanistan. About 12,500 US-led troops will stay on into next year on a Nato training and support mission.