President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday said Pakistan believed that effective border management at its border with Afghanistan was in the interest of both countries.
President Mamnoon in a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, held here on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), termed the recent events at Torkham as unfortunate and also “against the spirit of good neighbourly relations and friendly cooperation”.
President Mamnoon emphasised that “focus should be on addressing the issue through engagement and not hostilities”, an official from Pakistan delegation privy to the meeting told media.
The two sides endorsed the formation of the high-level consultative mechanism under the guidance of foreign ministers and said that it would prove fruitful in the resolution of conflicts.
President Mamnoon said Pakistan attached great importance to its ties with Afghanistan and had vital stakes in peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.
He said comprehensive bilateral engagement in political, security, economic and people-to-people levels was in the mutual interest of two countries.
He said Pakistan believed that a politically negotiated settlement remained a viable option for bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan.
The President stressed bilateral dialogue for sustainable repatriation of Afghan refugees and undocumented Afghans in Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and Pakistan’s ambassador Riaz Bukhari were present.
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