President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said that strong, peaceful and stable Afghanistan "is in the interest of both countries" and the entire region. He was speaking to the members of Pak-Afghanistan Jirga Commission, who met him at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
It has been decided to hold a joint Grand Jirga of the two countries in Kabul in August, to be attended by President General Pervez Musharraf and President Hamid Karzai. The two leaders will address the Grand Jirga.
The President stressed the need for greater people to people contact as the two countries share common history, culture and heritage. He underlined the need for increasing co-operation in various fields, especially in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
He said the Jirga, which comprises tribal elders, politicians, parliamentarians, journalists and representatives from various walks of life of two countries, could play an important role in promoting peace and harmony between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
President Musharraf said that Pakistan had been hosting over four million Afghan refugees over the last three decades. He said that about 2.4 million refugees are still living here, and Pakistan desires to facilitate their repatriation with honour and dignity to their homeland.
The President informed the delegation members that Pakistan has been extending political, diplomatic and economic support and assistance to their Afghan brothers and sisters. He especially referred to the country's critical assistance, which it provided to Kabul after the Soviet invasion.
He said that Pakistan has been playing a leading role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-torn country and has been urging the global community to further expand its assistance and co-operation in the reconstruction efforts. The President said that Pakistan had already donated $300 million for the rebuilding of Afghanistan and assured them that it would remain committed to this objective.
Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao later told media persons that a technical committee had been formed to finalise the arrangements for holding the joint Grand Jirga in Kabul. He said that it is the second visit of the Afghan Jirga Commission to Pakistan which would help further cement the brotherly ties between the two countries.
From Pakistan side, the meeting was attended by Minister for Interior as Chairman of the Pakistan Jirga Commission, NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Federal Ministers Dr Ghazi Ghulab Jamal, Sardar Muhammad Rind, Pakistan's Ambassador in Afghanistan Tariq Aziz ud Din and other officials, while Afghan side was represented by Said Ahmad Gilani Chairman, Majnon Gulab, Muhammad Muhaqiq, Fazel Hadi Shirwani, Din Mohammad, Fazel Ahmed Manwi and Farooq Wardak.