Pakistan‚ Afganistan agree on joint commission to release prisoners

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to operationalize the joint commission on release of prisoners and holding of Ulema Conference in Kabul to advance the peace process.
Pakistan handed over draft of Strategic Partnership Agreement to Afghanistan to further build up bilateral relations with the neighboring country.
The document was shared by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during a meeting with her Afghan counterpart Dr. Zalmai Rassoul here on Friday.
Both the sides agreed to hold Ulema Conference in Kabul and operationlize the joint commission on prisoners release.
The two sides also agreed to extend the Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to Tajikistan in the first phase and then extend it to the other Central Asian countries for enhancement of regional trade.
Later addressing a joint news conference‚ Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister marks the initiation of negotiations on the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister expressed keenness of Pakistan to build strong bilateral relations with Afghanistan on the basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality.
She said it is Pakistan’s strong desire to further strengthen cultural and religious affinities existing between the two neighboring countries.
Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul said his country sees relations with Pakistan as the most significant one in terms of the common challenges faced by both the countries. He said his country will never allow its soil used against Pakistan. Afghanistan will do everything possible to avoid the damage coming from Pakistan. He said shelling into Pakistan from Afghan side has reduced significantly recently and both the countries need to work together to sort out the issues.
Zalmai Rasool said peace in Afghanistan is a prerequisite for peace and stability in Pakistan and the region. He said Pakistan has a crucial role to play in the success of reconciliation process.