The people of both the two brotherly countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan have sacrificed enough and understand each others grief and sorrow which will help joint efforts to restore peace, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Barrister Masood Kausar said on Sunday. Kausar said the recent joint meeting of the head of states of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan was a welcome sign.
Inaugurating the 3-match cricket series between the Pakistan and Afghanistan T- 20 teams at Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, Kausar said Pakistan and Afghanistan have jointly experienced every hour of grief over the last three decades. He said that the period was a long one, in which a new generation had seen those relations develop beyond the limits of normal historic, cultural and geographical relationships. Afghan Council General to Pakistan Muhammad Ibrahim Khail spoke on this occasion. The FATA T–20 cricket team, representing Khyber, Momand and Bajaur agencies was also present and was introduced to the Governor besides the members of Pakistan and Afghanistan T 20 Cricket teams.
Kausar appreciated the cricket tournament as a step towards bringing the two countries youth together on the field of sports. Our youth can promote peace through sports, he said. “We have a number of common cultural, linguistic and religious values and sports activities will further cement the staunch bonds of relationships between both the countries”, he said. Congratulating organisers for arranging the tournament under the slogan a very useful activity in the name of “Cricket for Peace,”Kausar said that the FATA Olympic Association had been established recently while a complete FATA Directorate of Sports was now functional under the aegis of FATA Secretariat. He said the government was contemplating on establishing sport complexes in each FATA agency to facilitate local sportsmen and would be open to Afghan brethren. Provincial Minister for Sports, Tourism, Archives and Archeology Aqil Shah also attended the event.
