ADDU: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday agreed to further enhance and cooperate with each other to ensure peace, security and stability in the region.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani held one hour long meeting with President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai at a newly built Shangrila Resort here on the sidelines of 17th SAARC summit and discussed bilateral relations, situation in the region and SAARC affairs.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Communication Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri and other officials of Foreign Office also attended the meeting from Pakistan side.
Talking to newsmen along with President Hamid Karzai, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the democratic government in Pakistan has made unprecedented efforts to improve its relations with Afghanistan since 2008.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is prepared to work in a cooperative mode with Afghanistan and other international partners to promote the shared objectives of stability and peace in Afghanistan.
Gilani while referring to the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani said that it has a setback to the peace and reconciliation process adding that Pakistan will extend full cooperation to the recently constituted joint investigation commission to probe the murder of Prof. Rabbani.
The Prime Minister said Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani was a sincere friend of Pakistan and his death is a great loss to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani said the challenges have to be addressed through concerted efforts.
The Prime Minister said, "We need to sincerely commit not to allow our respective national territories to be used for activities detrimental to each others interests."
Gilani emphasized that reconciliation and reintegration in Afghanistan have to be entirely Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and part of a domestic political process and assured full support from Pakistan for this process.
He said Pakistan had joined the Joint Peace and Reconciliation Commission on the request of Afghanistan and still ready to facilitate this process, if requested by Afghanistan.
He said various trilateral and quadrilateral processes are aimed at creating an enabling environment to work on development agenda and promote trans-regional development cooperation.
These and other important processes such as the ECO and the SCO are now gaining momentum, said the Prime Minister.
Both the countries agreed to convene the postponed trilateral meeting
between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan on mutually agreed dates.
He also appreciated the outcome of the trilateral held in Istanbul on Afghanistan which was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, President Hamid Karzai and President Abdullah Gul and hoped that it will be helpful in resolving the Afghan issue through peaceful means.
He said any remaining or upcoming problems can also be resolved through mutual efforts especially with the help of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan and Afghanistan should work jointly for enhancing rail and road connectivity. Projects like TAPI and CASA-1000 because this rail and road connections can change the region.
He said involvement of private sectors in development programs and joint ventures is imperative. He said, "We should also encourage project-based cooperation, in the areas of energy, transport, industry, communication, mining, livestock, agriculture and environment."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai while replying to a question said strategical agreement between Afghanistan and India is not against Pakistan or any other country in the region.
He said it will help to promote education and development in Afghanistan.
He said, "We fully understand that instability in Pakistan can not be source of stability in Afghanistan and vice varsa."
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