'Narcotics bloodline of cross-border terrorism between Pakistan, Afghanistan'

The narcotics is bloodline of cross-border terrorism between Afghanistan-Pakistan and Afghan government must do more to eradicate the illicit trade of narcotics. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan said this at the concluding session of two-day Pak-Afghan dialogue on parliamentarian level.
The delegation contained 20 Afghan Parliamentarians, belonging to the Senate and National Assembly of Afghanistan (Meshrano Jirga and Wolesi Jirga respectively) has a detailed dialogue with their Pakistani counterparts on the issues of mutual interest including terrorism, Afghan transit trade and the role of media in bringing the two countries closer.
Syed Ishaq Gilani, who was heading the delegation admitted that during Taliban's regime, they had affectively banned the poppy cultivation and narcotics trade. But narcotics business has again held the ground and penetrated into the system of Afghan government. "President Karzi is taking serious steps to kick it out of system," he said.
Senator Ishaq further said it was a misconception that Indian consulates at Afghanistan have been involved in terrorist activities in the Province of Balochistan. He said Afghan government does not allow anyone to use their land for terrorism in other countries. There are two Indian consulates offices and government has kept an eye on them, he added.
He further proposed the Pakistani government for holding a regional conference of all the stakeholders so that the spread of narcotics and cross border terrorisms must be controlled.
"The intelligence agencies of the two countries were pursuing their own individual interest whereas terrorism was a common enemy demanding collective actions by the agencies of the two countries," stated in a joint declaration. Replying to a question, Ishaq Gilani said the delegation had a meeting with the President Asif Ali Zardari who assured the delegation to resolve the issue of containers stopped by customs authority at Karachi port destined of Afghanistan.
Responding to another question, Afghan senator said that only those Pakistanis were arrested in Afghanistan who were found involved in terrorist activities and their information was also shared with Pakistani authorities. Senator Saifullah said two sides agreed to hold their next meeting in Kabul in May 2011. From Pakistan side, 10 senators and 10 MNAs would visit Afghanistan.
Responding to a question regarding trust deficit between the two countries, Saifullah said it is a negative propaganda. Swelling of trade volume from 200 million dollars to 2 billion dollars speaks itself that the gap of trust deficit between the two brotherly countries is narrowing. To reduce it further, Government of Pakistan offered 6000 scholarships to Afghan students which may be increased on request. He maintained that the continuation of process of dialogue between the two countries already has a positive impact on bridging the trust gap. Both sides agreed that without restoring peace in Afghanistan, the concept of stability in the region cannot be achieved.