Afghan parliamentary team accorded warm welcome in National Assembly

The visiting Afghan parliamentary delegation was accorded warm welcome in the National Assembly, as lawmakers from across the division stressed the need for friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan delegation witnessed the proceedings of the Lower House, which upon their arrival received a thumping welcome from both treasury and opposition benches.
Welcoming the delegation, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were historic and these will be further promoted for peace and stability in the region. He said Pakistan has always stood by Afghanistan in odd times and will continue to extend helping hand to it in future as well.
Others members while welcoming the Afghan delegation said that Pakistan respects Afghanistan as a sovereign state and expressed the confidence that the delegation will take back a goodwill message that Islamabad wants good neighbourly relations with Kabul.
They said Pakistan and Afghanistan are suffering from the common disease of terrorism, which has put the future of both the countries at stake. They said both the countries should strive together to get rid of the menace. The members proposed frequent exchanges of delegation between the two countries to develop better understanding on important issues.
Those who welcomed the Afghan delegation on behalf of their parties included PPP-Sherpao chairman Aftan Ahmed Khan Sherpao, PML-N's Rana Tanvir, PPP's Fauzia Wahab, PML-Q's Riaz Hussain Pirzada, MQM's Dr Abdul Qadir Khanzada, ANP's Pervez Khan Advocate and Fata's Kamran Khan.