PM expected to visit Afghanistan next week

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to pay a one-day visit to Afghanistan next week over the invitation of the Afghan president, ARY News reported on Friday.

As per details, the prime minister will discuss the Afghan peace process and bilateral ties with the top Afghan leadership. However, the date of his visit has not been made public due to security reasons.

On November 12, Afghan ambassador to Pakistan met COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed issues related to security and Afghan peace process.

The Afghan envoy's visit comes amid the ongoing intra-Afghan talks. Pakistan has played a key role in taking the peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban forward. Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that successful culmination of the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process is indispensable for Afghanistan and for regional peace.

He also urged all the stakeholders to seize the historic opportunity in order to put an end to the long military conflict.

In October, former Afghanistan premier Gulbuddin Hekmatyar visited Pakistan and met Prime Minister Imran Khan. He appreciated Pakistan's positive role in facilitating the Afghan peace process.

He also thanked Pakistan for its long-standing contribution to the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than four decades.