Pakistan and Afghanistan have reaffirmed their resolve at the highest level to transform bilateral ties and build up a relationship marked with close co-operation on the political and security planes, having a strong economic foundation. This commitment was made at the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Ashraf Ghani at the Prime Minister's House here Saturday, said a Foreign Office statement.
Following the official welcome ceremony at the Prime Minister's House, the two leaders first had a one-on-one meeting and later led their respective sides at the delegation-level talks. The wide-ranging consultations between the two leaders covered all aspects of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, situation in the region, and regional economic co-operation.
Sources privy to the talks told Business Recorder that the two leaders particularly discussed the post-2014 situation after withdrawal of the Nato and US troops by the end of this year and underscored the need for a close co-operation to deal with the situation. The two sides agreed to take effective measures, including a comprehensive border management mechanism, to deal with the cross border infiltration. A proposal in this regard, which was earlier presented by Pakistan, also came under discussion for better border management and the two sides would hold further talks on this count. They said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also emphasised on the Afghan government co-operation in the ongoing Zarb-e-Azab and the two sides vowed that every effort would be made towards ensuring that their respective soils are not used against each other. The talks were followed by a Joint press stakeout by the two leaders. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while speaking on the occasion, extended a warm welcome to the President of Afghanistan and conveyed cordial greetings of the people of Pakistan.
He congratulated President Ashraf Ghani on the successful democratic transition in Afghanistan and his assumption of office. He appreciated President Ghani's bold vision and strong leadership and wished him well in the realisation of domestic reform agenda. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan's vital interest. He outlined his vision of a strong, comprehensive and enduring partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan. To this end, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of a multi-tiered bilateral engagement at the political, security, economic, leadership, and people-to-people levels. Reaffirming Pakistan's resolve to fight terrorism and extremism, the Prime Minister highlighted the positive results of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He underscored the importance of both sides working together to address common security challenges through common endeavours. "Our two countries face formidable challenges - including extremism and terrorism, a precarious security environment, and trans-national crimes... I am convinced that we can effectively meet them, through a common resolve and common endeavouring," he added. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Afghan efforts for peace and reconciliation.
In the regional context, the Prime Minister highlighted his vision of a peaceful neighbourhood and Pakistan's endeavours to build co-operative ties with all neighbours, including India. In this regard, he noted Pakistan's commitment to purposeful dialogue and peaceful resolution of outstanding issues.
The Prime Minister said that bonds between Pakistan and Afghanistan are special and their fraternal ties are fortified by common faith, kinship and shared history. "We've common woes and common joys...We grieve together and rejoice together. Our security and future prosperity remain interlinked," he added. The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of regional economic co-operation, laying a strong emphasis on road and rail links and key energy projects including CASA-1000 and TAPI gas pipeline.
President Ghani affirmed the importance Afghanistan attached to forging a "special relationship" with Pakistan. In this context, he emphasised the importance of mutual trust and understanding, close political and security engagement, a comprehensive economic strategy, and increased regional economic co-operation.
President Ghani said the enormous steps taken in the last three days had overcome the obstacles in ties between the two countries of the past 13 years. "We must also overcome the past and not allow it to destroy the future," he added. Terming it an enormous achievement, he said the two countries agreed on a shared vision that could lead to the fulfillment of the dream of Asia's integration, adding that it would help connect South Asia with Central Asia and vice versa.
He also mentioned the benefit the two countries can reap by laying an enhanced connectivity through energy, gas and oil pipelines. The Afghan President invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Kabul and said both the countries remained committed to working together for peace, security and prosperity for their people. He said the focus of policies of the Afghan National Unity Government is on having good ties with the neighbours, regional countries, Asian region and the world at large. Ghani said Pakistan will continue to remain their partner as strong bonds between both the countries were vital for the region, adding that both the countries are on the same page for abolition of poverty and under-development. "The people of the two countries desire peace, stability and security, which are vital for development", he added.
He appreciated the Prime Minister's vision for peace and democracy and the commitment to build a stronger partnership between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the presence of the two leaders, the two Finance Ministers signed Agreed Minutes on matters relating to enhancing bilateral trade, promoting investment and joint production in designated free economic zones in Afghanistan, streamlining transit trade matters, provision of technical assistance, strengthening road and rail links, expeditiously completing as well as expanding reconstruction and capacity-building projects with Pakistan's bilateral assistance, enhancing energy collaboration including joint ventures in petroleum sector, and facilitating Pakistan's access to Central Asian markets.
Among other things, the two sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Co-ordination Authority (APTTCA) by December 2014. It was also decided to provide an institutional platform for enhanced business and investment collaboration by forming a Joint Business Council. The two sides also set the target of bilateral trade at $5 billion by the end of 2017. It was also agreed to initiate negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Earlier, the Prime Minister welcomed President Ghani as a special guest and dear brother to Pakistan - his "second home". The Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon in honour of the President of Afghanistan and his entourage. Later, the two leaders watched a friendly cricket match between the national "A" teams of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan won the match and the winners were given trophies by the two leaders.
President Ghani's other engagements during the second day of his 2-day visit to Pakistan included the planting of a sapling at Shakarparian and meetings with members of Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group. Besides, the Chief Minister of Punjab called on President Ashraf Ghani. The Ministers of Commerce and Textile Industry also made a joint call on the President.
The visit of President Ashraf Ghani advances the process of deep and wide-ranging engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan remains committed to forging a bilateral relationship that contributes to the security and prosperity of the two countries and promotes the cause of peace, stability and development in the region.
AFP adds: Pakistan and Afghanistan pledged to begin a new era of economic co-operation Saturday, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani saying three days of talks had ended 13 years of differences.
Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said collaboration on economic and energy issues would form the basis of better security in the troubled region as US-led Nato combat troops leave Afghanistan after more than a decade of fighting the Taliban. The fact that Ghani chose to make Islamabad the destination for his first bilateral visit since taking power in September is seen as an important sign of wanting to improve ties. The former World Bank economist arrived in Islamabad on Friday but aides had begun negotiations with Pakistani officials a day earlier.
"I want to welcome the enormous steps that have been taken in the last three days to achieve progress on the economy," Ghani said at a joint news conference with Sharif afterwards. "We have overcome obstacles of 13 years in three days," he said in an apparent dig at the troubles of the Karzai era. The Afghan leader, who took the presidency in a power-sharing government after a protracted and bitter election battle against rival Abdullah Abdullah, said co-operation on gas and energy projects would be key.
"What we have agreed on is a shared vision where Pakistan and Afghanistan would serve as the heart of Asia to ensure that economic integration in Asia becomes a reality," he said. The two sides plan to work together on the CASA-1000 electricity line and the ambitious $7.6 billion dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistani-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
The 1,800-kilometre TAPI project aims to link the gas fields of Central Asia to energy-hungry markets in Pakistan and India, with international giants ExxonMobil, Chevron, Petronas, BP and Total all interested, according to sources. "Today we have taken fundamental steps to ensure that South Asia connects with Central Asia and Central Asia connects to South Asia," Ghani said.
On Saturday Sharif reiterated Pakistan's desire for stability in Afghanistan and support for the reconciliation process to achieve peace. Pointing to Pakistan's wariness about outside mediation, Sharif stressed that reconciliation efforts should be "fully Afghan-led and Afghan-owned". Later in the afternoon, both leaders watched a cricket match between the A teams of Pakistan and Afghanistan and distributed prizes among players in a show of unity. They shook hands with players and were photographed in group with them as spectators clapped and shouted. A large number of Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan had turned up at the ground to greet their president and cricket players amid heavy deployment of security.
Comments
Comments are closed.