ID :
188257
Mon, 06/13/2011 - 16:42
Auther :

Diplomatic (Pak-Afghanistan discuss common challenge, agreed to strengthen cooperation)

Islamabad (PPI) - Pakistan and Afghanistan have held very constructive dialogue on a number of issues including peace and stability and prosperity and development in Afghanistan. This was stated by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai at a news conference Saturday following their talks in Islamabad.

The Prime Minister said terrorism and militancy have held progress of the two countries hostage for years and it is necessary to address the issue through joint strategy. He said during talks the two countries discussed the common challenge and agreed to strengthen their mutual cooperation to overcome the challenge.

Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said there is great potential for cooperation in areas like trade, economy, investment, connectivity, energy, infrastructure and people-to-people contacts.

The two countries have agreed that in our to translate this potential into concrete projects, we will have to develop framework agreements. In this spirit, 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.

They also discussed the establishment of special economic and industrial zones and realization of the economic opportunity zones. These initiatives can turn the tide and change the mind set.

The Prime Minister said the new transit trade agreement is a landmark development that will help generate greater economic activities in the two countries.

The two countries have reaffirmed their believe that mega projects like TAPI and CASA-1000 should be implemented on priority basis as constitute investment in peace.

He said Pakistan-Afghanistan-US cooperation for peace in the region is indispensable and the trilateral engagement will be pursued in the future.

The Prime Minister hoped that the platform of Joint Commission for Reconciliation and Peace in Afghanistan will facilitate exchange of views on cooperation and coordination and accelerate the pace of reconciliation process. Senior officials will continue follow up discussions at the subsequent meetings of the commission. He said Pakistan is committed to standing by Afghanistan in these testing times.

President Hamid Karzai reciprocated sentiments of Prime Minister Gilani and said his visit is a step forward in enhancing relations between the two countries. He said the two countries have agreed to take practical steps toward effective working of the joint commission. The first meeting of the commission was productive and satisfactory for both sides.

Asked to comment on cross border attacks in Pakistan by militants from Afghan side, President Karzai said these reports were worrisome and call for more work to remove radicals and their sanctuaries.

He said Afghanistan would definitely look into the matter and if they came from Afghanistan then it is responsibility of the Afghan Government to take action and stop them. It is also responsibility of Pakistan to do the same on this side of the border.

Mr. Karzai said Mian Nawaz Sharif had invited him to visit Lahore but he could not because of his tight schedule and he would visit the provincial capital of Punjab on his next trip to Pakistan.

Prime Minister Gilani said invitations were extended to Mian Nawaz Sharif and leader of the opposition to attend feast being given in honour of the Afghan President but he expressed his inability because of his other engagements.

When asked about the mandate of Joint Pakistan Afghan peace commission, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the commission is being headed by the former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani and the aim is to achieve the dream of peace and stability in the region.

Reiterating support for Afghan led reconciliation process, the prime minister said that a peaceful, stable and sovereign Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that the sub commission of the joint commission will meet in one month time to discuss all the issues relating to the reconciliation and peace process.

Responding to a question regarding the Pakistan-Afghan transit trade agreement, Prime Minister Gilani said that besides the bilateral transit trade, both Pakistan and Afghanistan are desirous of trilateral agreement for cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian States.

On the withdrawal of Nato troops from Afghanistan, Afghan President said that we have a transition plan that will be completed by 2014 whereby Afghan forces will take charge of the security of the country.

He said that presence of the US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 depends upon any understanding reached between the two countries.

About the membership of Shangai Cooperation Organization, Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan wants to be full member of the organization for greater economic integration in the region. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that his country has applied for observer status in the organization

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