The new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) came into force yesterday (June 10), announced Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and termed it a landmark development that would help generate greater economic activities in the two countries and beyond.
Prime Minister Gilani stated this on Saturday while addressing a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai following their talks here at the Prime Minister House. The two leaders described the talks as very 'constructive' that covered a wide range of issues including peace and stability and development in Afghanistan.
"You are aware that the new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement came into force yesterday. This is indeed an important development. The landmark agreement will generate greater economic activity between the two countries and beyond", said Prime Minister Gilani.
Besides the bilateral transit trade, he said both Pakistan and Afghanistan were desirous of trilateral agreements for co-operation between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian States. He said that there was great potential for co-operation in areas like trade, economy, investment, connectivity, energy, infrastructure and people-to-people contacts adding the two countries have agreed that in order to translate this potential into concrete projects, framework agreements would need to be developed.
In this spirit, Gilani said the two countries have identified projects including Peshawar-Jalalabad-Herat Expressway and rail link between Peshawar and Jalalabad as well as hydro electric power generation and transmission. During the talks, he said the two sides also discussed the establishment of special economic and industrial zones and realisation of the economic opportunity zones. These initiatives can turn the tide and change the mindset, he added.
The two countries have reaffirmed their belief that mega projects like Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and CASA-1000 should be implemented on priority basis as they constitute investment in peace. "We are of the firm belief that mega projects like TAPI and CASA-1000 hold great promise for the region. Their speedy completion and implementation will change the horizon of the region and people's destinies", he added.
He urged the investors and friendly countries to come forward and invest in the projects, adding this will indeed be investment in peace. Referring to the issue of terrorism, Gilani said terrorism and militancy have held progress in the two countries hostage for years and stressed the need for a joint strategy to address the issue. He said during talks the two countries discussed common challenges and agreed to strengthen their mutual co-operation to overcome terrorism and militancy in the region.
He said Pakistan-Afghanistan-US co-operation for peace in the region was indispensable and the trilateral engagements will be pursued in the future. About the Joint Pakistan Afghan Peace Commission inaugurated on Saturday by him and President Karzai and also attended by senior military and intelligence officials from the two sides, the Prime Minister said he was confident that the platform would facilitate exchange of views on co-operation and co-ordination and accelerate the pace of reconciliation process. He said senior officials would continue follow-up discussions at subsequent meetings of the joint commission.
About the mandate of the Commission, Gilani said it was being headed by former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani and its objective was to realise the dream of peace and stability in the region. He further said that a peaceful, stable and sovereign Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan. He said Pakistan was committed to standing by Afghanistan in these testing times.
The Prime Minister said that the two countries had very useful and constructive dialogue on a number of issues including stability, peace, prosperity and development in Afghanistan and the region, adding that a joint declaration was also signed. He said that Hamid Karzai presence here was yet another manifestation of the close and cordial relations between our two countries and the people adding that frequent interaction at various levels between Pakistan and Afghanistan was a hallmark of bilateral relations between the two countries. He said that the idea behind frequent interaction was to remain in regular contact with each other and to pursue consultations on matters of common concern and mutual interest.
To a question regarding membership to Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, Gilani said that Pakistan wants to be full member of the organisation for greater economic integration in the region.
Afghan President Karzai said that his visit was a step forward in enhancing relations between the two countries adding that the two countries have agreed to take practical steps toward effective working of the joint commission. He said that the first meeting of the Commission was productive and satisfactory.
To a question regarding cross-border attacks in Pakistan by militants from Afghan side particularly the resent attacks in Shaltalo area in Upper Dir, Karzai said the reports were worrisome and also underscored the need for more work to eliminate radicals and their sanctuaries. "Afghan government would definitely look into the matter and if they came from Afghanistan then it is the responsibility of the Afghan government to take action and stop them", he said. Karzai, however, stated that it was also the responsibility of Pakistan to do the same on the other side of the border.
Responding to a query, Karzai said Mian Nawaz Sharif had invited him to visit Lahore but he could not visit because of his tight schedule, however, he added that he would visit Punjab on his next trip to the country. However, Prime Minister Gilani said invitations were extended to Mian Nawaz Sharif and leader of the opposition to attend the reception arranged for Afghan President but Nawaz Sharif had expressed his inability because of his other engagements.
To another question, President Karzai said that the sub commission of the joint commission will meet in one month's time to discuss all the issues relating to the reconciliation and peace process. About the withdrawal of Nato troops from Afghanistan, Karazi said that they have a transition plan, which will be completed by 2014 whereby Afghan forces will take charge of the security of the country. He said US troops' presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014 depends upon any understanding reached between the two countries.