Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry on Sunday hoped that Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s visit will enable the leadership of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to further strengthen joint endeavours in pursuit of durable peace, stability and prosperity.
Chaudhry said Pakistan hopes that Karzai’s visit would impart a strong impetus to ongoing efforts for an enhanced relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to the statement, the spokesman said that on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai will be visiting Islamabad on Monday (today). The Afghan president will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and officials.
This will be the first highest-level exchange between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the democratic transition and swearing-in of the new government. After taking office, Nawaz has spoken to Karzai on three occasions. They have also been meeting during Karzai’s recent visits to Pakistan.
The Afghan president’s visit comes at a time when Afghanistan is undergoing important political and security transitions and the draw-down of NATO/ISAF forces is due to be completed by December 2014.
Nawaz has articulated a forward-looking vision of a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood defined by close, cooperative relations with all neighbours. His invitation to Karzai and commitment to work closely with the Afghan leadership is part of that vision.
Earlier, the adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, had visited Kabul on July 21. The adviser carried a message of goodwill and cordiality from the people of Pakistan and the desire of the new government to comprehensively upgrade the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship. Substantive talks were held on the Afghan peace process and bilateral relations.
Karzai’s visit will carry forward this process of constructive engagement between the two countries. The two leaders will have in-depth consultations on all issues of common interest, including the evolving situation in the region as well as ways to deepen and broaden Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations.
