Pak-Afghan talks: enhanced cooperation in anti-terror efforts agreed

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on the need for enhanced co-operation to deal with the common enemy, terrorism and extremism and vowed to jointly work for peace and stability. The understanding between the two sides was reached here on Friday during bilateral talks with Pakistan delegation of civil and military leadership headed by the Prime Minister Gilani and the Afghan side led by President Hamid Karzai.
On reaching the Prime Minister's House, Karzai was warmly received by Gilani and both the leaders held one-on-one meeting before the bilateral talks. The talks were described to be held in very cordial atmosphere and both the countries discussed bilateral co-operation in the fields of trade and commerce, infrastructure development, regional transit trade and cross border movement. The two sides reviewed the current developments in and around the region relating to peace and stability.
Gilani stated that Pakistan supported any peace process in Afghanistan, which was Afghan-led and Afghan-owned because peace, prosperity and independence of Afghanistan was in the best national interest of Pakistan. Gilani said that Pakistan would continue to extend full co-operation to Afghan Government in the investigation of the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and Afghan President expressed gratitude to the government of Pakistan for his assistance in the investigation of assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.
Karzai said Pakistan's support is critical to the success of Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process and the reconciliation in the country and termed Pakistan and Afghanistan as twin brothers and therefore both should cooperate in the same spirit for the cause of peace and stability in both the countries.
The Pakistan delegation included, Minister for Commerce, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister for Defence, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Advisor on Finance, Dr Abdul Hafiz Sheikh, Advisor on Petroleum, Dr Asim Hussain, Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, DG ISI, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha and senior government officials.
The Afghan delegation included Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Zalmai Rassoul, National Security Advisor, Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Jawed Ludin, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan, Muhammad Umar Daudzai and other senior Afghan government officials.