Pakistani political delegation discuss anti-terror cooperation, enhanced bilateral ties with Afghan government
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday told senior Pakistani political leaders that the two countries face time-consuming challenges regarding regional security and terrorism but vowed to overcome all problems with joint efforts.
Pakistani political leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Senator Afrasiab Khattak are visiting Kabul on Ghani’s invitation for a discussion on joint efforts to strengthen anti-terror cooperation and boost people-to-people contacts.
“During meetings in the Afghan Presidential Palace, the issues of enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries, improving security situation, joint efforts on fighting terrorism and addressing the problems of Afghan migrants in Pakistan were discussed between the two sides,” Ghani’s office said.
“In return, President Ghani said that the Afghan government will continue with joint efforts and consultations and would exert its utmost efforts to strengthen people-to-people contacts at all levels between the two countries,” a statement read, adding that “even with many obstacles ahead, the new government of Afghanistan is committed to removing the problems.
According to the statement, the Pakistani delegation expressed that Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing common problems which require joint efforts.
The delegation viewed that the two countries should not miss emerging new opportunities for enhancing relations.
Talking to Afghan media, Sherpao said that the delegation discussed several important issues, including joint efforts to stymie insurgent activity along the Durand Line.
The political leaders also stated that the perspective on the fight against terrorism has changed on the other side of the Durand Line.
“People in Pakistan have now realised that there is no difference between good and bad terrorists. Terrorism is not only a threat to the two countries but to the region and the entire world as well,” the Pakistani delegation said in a statement.
The meetings were also attended by former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and Afghan lawmakers.
During his visit to Pakistan in November, Ghani had extended invitations to Pakistani leaders and during the first phase of interaction three Pashtoon leaders visited Kabul. More political leaders are likely to travel to Kabul later, a senior politician said.
Afghan analysts have voiced scepticism about the trip, suggesting that those participating from the Pakistani side are “not influential enough to seriously impact Islamabad’s policies or events on the ground”.
“Pakistan People’s Party and the political parties of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif are among the influential political parties. Achakzai’s party does not have influence and has only one seat in the parliament,” Afghan political analyst Ahmad Saeedi said.
