President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated that Pakistan believes in policy of neutrality and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and stands for stable, prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan.
He urged for joint efforts to overcome all issues together that have disturbed our peace, security and stability as there was no outside solution to bring stability and peace to our regions. Pakistan supports the Afghan led process of political reconciliation and efforts for the stability of the neighbouring country.
This he said during his meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Zalmai Rassoul at Aiwan-e-Sadr here on Thursday. Dr Rassoul was accompanied by senior Afghan officials of Afghan Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From Pakistani side, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Rehman A. Malik, Interior Minister, M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Muhammad Sadiq, Pakistan ambassador to Kabul, Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary to the President, Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar and other senior officials were present.
Briefing the media spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that matters relating to Pak-Afghan bilateral relations, security situation in Afghanistan, Afghan refugee issue and Pak Afghan transit trade agreement were discussed during the meeting. The President welcomed the recently concluded Afghan Transit Trade Agreement and called upon early completion of necessary formalities in both the countries to operationalise the agreement which he said was imperative for the economic uplift of the people of the two countries.
Discussing Afghan refugee issue, the President hoped that socio-economic conducive environment in Afghanistan will be created to enable the refugees return to their homes. He also hoped that the refugees would be factored in any integration process. Dr Rassoul thanked the President for meeting and for Pakistan's support to Afghanistan in an effort to bring stability, peace and development.-PR