ISLAMABAD
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s support in the reconciliation process in his country.
Karzai said this while talking to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who called on him in Kabul. The minister is leading a delegation to the 9th Session of the Joint Economic Commission (lEC) with Afghanistan from February 22-24, 2014.
During the meeting, Dar conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which were warmly reciprocated by Karzai.
The meeting was also attended by the Afghan finance minister, national security advisor and the presidential advisor on foreign affairs. Dar was assisted by Pakistani Envoy to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq.
Karzai and Dar agreed on the primacy of good bilateral ties. Dar briefed the Afghan president on the agenda of the JEC as well as efforts made by Pakistan in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Karzai assured Dar that his country would support initiatives in bilateral economic area.
The Afghan president underscored the need for reconciliation process in Afghanistan to ensure a peaceful future for the people of Afghanistan.
Karzai and Dar agreed that their countries face common challenges and enemies and there was a need to work together to overcome these challenges.
The minister, in addition to attending the JEC Session in Kabul, would also visit major projects constructed by Pakistan under its bilateral assistance programme, including the newly constructed Rehman Baba school and hostel in Kabul which would accommodate up to 1,500 students, the Torkham-Jalalabad additional carriageway, Nishtar Kidney Centre in Jalalabad and the Liaqat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty of Balkh University in Mazar-e-Sharif.
Dar would also meet the governors of Nangarhar and Mazar-e-Sharif during his visit to the provincial capitals.