Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said regular quarterly contacts between foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan will improve and strengthen their multifaceted relationship.
Talking to Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Rangeen Dadfar Spanta at the PM House, he said Pakistan was keen to enhance co-operation and co-ordination with Afghanistan especially in diplomatic, economic, defence and security fields.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan was totally committed to supporting President Karzai's government and was closely working with it as a strong, stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in its interest as it was in Afghanistan's. "Afghanistan is vital for the energy, trade and transportation corridors, Pakistan wants to establish with Central Asia and a stable Afghanistan is critical to these links," he added.
The prime minister said both countries were bound in bonds of faith, culture, history and geography besides, a shared faith that add depth to the bilateral relations. He also called for systematic and sustained efforts to promote integration between the economies of the two countries.
Shaukat Aziz referred to $1.5 billion trade between the two countries, saying: "We expect the economic ties to further expand as several new projects have been approved by the Joint Economic Commission." He said Pakistan was keen to invest in Afghanistan and areas are being identified for investment.
The Afghan foreign minister thanked the prime minister for the warm hospitality, saying that Afghanistan was equally keen to further improve relations with Pakistan. He said regular contacts between the leaders will help in strengthening relationship and improve understanding between the two countries. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad Dr Nanguyalai Tarzi and Pakistan's Ambassador in Kabul Tariq Azizuddin and senior government officials.
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