Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday met here and discussed bilateral issues and regional situation. Karzai is on a two-day official visit to join President Asif Ali Zardari and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a trilateral summit aimed at promoting regional co-operation and strengthening peace and stability in the region.
In a meeting held in cordial atmosphere at the Prime Minister House, Gilani and Karzai discussed a range of issues concerning Pakistan and Afghanistan in diverse areas. They called for strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighbourly countries. The two leaders also discussed the ongoing efforts for ensuring peace in Afghanistan for an ultimate peace in the region.
Both sides agreed to strengthen mutual co-operation to overcome the common challenges of terrorism and extremism and expressed their resolve to work for the stability and peace of both countries. Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan supported any peace process in Afghanistan, which is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned because peace, prosperity and independence of Afghanistan are in the best national interest of Pakistan.
Both sides reviewed the current developments in the region relating to peace and stability. They also discussed bilateral co-operation in the fields of trade and commerce, infrastructure development, regional transit trade and cross-border movement. The Prime Minister said Pakistan would continue to extend full co-operation to Afghan government in the investigation of the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.
Afghan President Karzai expressed his deep sense of gratitude to the government of Pakistan for the assistance in the investigation of assassination of Professor Rabbani. Karzai termed Pakistan's support as critical to the success of Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process and reconciliation in the country.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan are twin brothers and therefore should cooperate in the same spirit for the cause of peace and stability in both countries. The meeting was followed by delegation-level talks. Prime Minister Gilani was assisted by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Advisor to the PM on Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, and Minister-in-waiting Engineer Shaukatullah.
Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, Director General Inter Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha and senior government officials were also present. The Afghan President's delegation comprised Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Zalmai Rassoul and Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak. 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.
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