ISLAMABAD-
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that peace and security of Pakistan and Afghanistan are interlinked.
“Peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan” said the PM while addressing a joint news conference with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in Islamabad.
He assured the Afghan dignitary that Pakistan would continue to cooperate with Afghanistan for bringing peace and stability in the neighbouring country.
“Pakistan and Afghanistan will jointly counter the challenges of terrorism and extremism,” he said.
On the occasion, Afghan President Ghani lauded Pakistan’s efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He said partnership with Pakistan is important pillar of Afghan’s foreign policy.
Afghanistan has overcome the economic challenges of 13 years in just three days during his visit to Islamabad, he added.
Earlier, a formal welcome ceremony in honor of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was held at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad today.
On the occasion, a smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces presented guard of honor to the visiting dignitary. Anthems of both the countries were also played.
Later, the Prime Minister introduced his cabinet members to the Afghan president while the Afghan President introduced his delegation to the PM.
Yesterday, President Mamnoon Hussain met his Afghan counterpart and assured him that Pakistan would continue to fully support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Ghani expressed keen desire to further strengthen bilateral relations with the people and government of Pakistan in all areas of mutual interests.
The Afghan president also met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Raheel Sharif. He praised the efforts of Pak Army in combating terrorism.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said that during Ghani’s visit — his third foreign trip since his inauguration in September — the two sides would discuss a range of issues, including how to improve economic cooperation, border security and counterterrorism.
“Peace and stability in Afghanistan are in Pakistan’s vital interest,” Aslam said.
Ghani hopes Pakistan can help convince the Taliban to return to peace talks. In the past Pakistan has released jailed militants to facilitate negotiations.
Aslam said Islamabad supports “an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.”
During his meetings, Ghani has raised the issue of improved access to Pakistan’s markets for Afghan businessmen. His delegation of 145 includes businessmen as well as senior Afghan security officials.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. welcomed the prospect of improved cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and described Ghani’s trip as a good opportunity for that.
Prime Minister Sharif is completely right, hopefully this will help to bring more security into the country.
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