Peace linked to economic bonanza for the region: President tells Afghan senators

President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan must sail together as there were tremendous economic opportunities accruing from the geo-strategic location of the two countries to serve as a gateway between central Asia and the world. He also said the tremendous economic opportunities could only materialise through peace and stability in the region.
He was talking to a delegation of Afghan Senators who called on him here on Wednesday. Senator Syed Hamid Gailani, the leader of the delegation, said that he is honoured and flattered to meet the President. He said that he and his team were committed to opening a new chapter giving fresh value to the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. "The parliamentarians of Afghanistan have decided that they will not allow foreign intruders to spoil the relation between Pakistan and Afghanistan", he added.
Emphasising the brotherly ties between the two countries, he said that we must have one voice, one team, common friends and common adversaries. He also said that he has always felt that the peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan must be viewed by the world as one people.
He expressed his extreme gratefulness to President Musharraf and Pakistan for the help that has been given to his country and his people over a long period. He also said: "We the parliamentarians of Afghanistan will never allow anyone to use Afghanistan to work against or to cause destabilisation of Pakistan."
He pledged that the two people must fight together to win the war on terror. He also said that the Afghans have always thought that their future is linked with Pakistan and that they would pressurise their government whenever required to convey the worries and issues of Pakistani people. The President thanked the delegation and the people of Afghanistan for their love and affection and wished the delegates a nice stay in Pakistan.