Ashraf Ghani lauds Pakistan's efforts for peace process in Afghanistan
June 27, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday and said he appreciated Pakistan's efforts for the peace process in the country.
The Afghan president who is in the country on a two-day official visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan was given a guard of honour on arrival at the PM House. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising key ministers and senior officials.
Qureshi during the meeting with the Afghan president said Pakistan will continue to play its role for peace in Afghanistan with sincerity, good intentions and an open heart.
He added the Afghan people have suffered a lot due to the instability prevailing in Afghanistan for decades. “Pakistan has always emphasised on result-oriented talks believing that this is the only way to establish durable peace in Afghanistan,” Qureshi said.
The foreign minister expressed confidence that the Afghan president's visit to Pakistan will bring the two countries closer and strengthen bilateral relations.
Furthermore, the two sides agreed to implement the already decided strategy of peace and brotherhood for betterment and welfare of the peoples of the two countries.
They exchanged views to enhance bilateral economy, trade and investment and promote cooperation in communications, energy, culture and people to people contacts.
President Ghani will hold talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi during his visit. The talks between the two sides will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including political, trade, economic, security, peace and reconciliation, education as well as people-to-people exchanges.
President Ghani will also travel to Lahore where he will participate in a business forum attended by business representatives from both countries.
This is President Ghani’s third visit to Pakistan and follows the recently held first review session of the landmark Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). Other important bilateral exchanges in recent weeks have included the telephonic call between President Ghani and PM Imran, bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of OIC Summit in Makkah and visits of Afghan National Security Adviser and Minister for Refugees to Pakistan.
President Ghani had earlier undertaken a bilateral visit to Pakistan in November 2014 and subsequently came to attend the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA) Ministerial Conference in Islamabad in December 2015.
In a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan are bound by fraternal ties reinforced by historical, religious, linguistic and cultural affinities. The statement added that closer engagement between the leaders will help foster a stronger and multi-faceted relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
