"Peace, security and stability in Afghanistan has a vital link with peace and tranquility in Pakistan", he said this while talking to 12-member Afghan Parliamentary Delegation that called on him at the Parliament House.

The Delegation was led by Fazl- e-Hadi Muslimyar, President of Meshrano Jirga (Upper House) of the Afghan Parliament.

He underlined the need for further strengthening bilateral cooperation and consolidating the bond of friendship between Pakistan and Afghanistan through frequent Parliamentary exchanges and people to people contacts.

The Chairman said that pro-active role of the Parliamentarians of Pakistan and Afghanistan is essential to work out and implement effective strategies with regard to eradication of the menace of terrorism.

Pakistan believes in policy of non-interference and it was the corner stone of country's foreign policy. Naek said Afghan Parliamentary Delegation visit will further improve and strengthen ties between the two countries.

He noted with satisfaction that both the countries have witnessed improvement in their ties since establishment of a democratic regime in Pakistan. Leader of the Afghan Delegation Fazl-e-Hadi Muslimyar said that relations between the two would be strengthened further as a result of this visit.

Challenges, the two countries are facing, he said, need to be converting into opportunities in order to move forward on the road to progress for betterment of the two nations.

Muslimyar also expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in a recent attack by NATO forces. He sought more cooperation in the field of education, health and rehabilitation work and observed that Parliaments of both the countries should come forward to create understanding and further strengthen cooperation in different fields.

He thanked the Chairman Senate for a warm welcome and hospitality and extended invitation to the Chairman Senate and Senators to visit Afghanistan.

Senators Salim Saifullah Khan, Saeeda Iqbal, Hafiz Rashid Ahmed and Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi besides Secretary Senate Iftikharullah Babar were also present on the occasion.

Afghan Delegation is on a four-day official visit to Pakistan on the invitation of the Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naek. The Chairman also hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Afghan delegation.

Leader of the house in the Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and large number of Senators attended the reception.