Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar, said that people of both the brotherly countries-Afghanistan and Pakistan-have sacrificed a lot; they understand their grief and sorrow and without their joint effort restoration of peace is impossible.
The recent joint meeting of the head of states of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, he added, is a welcoming sign and will bear fruits.
Inaugurating the 3-matches cricket series between Pakistan and Afghanistan T-20 teams at Arbab Niaz Stadium in the historic city of Peshawar on Sunday, the Governor further stated, we jointly experienced every hour of grief and trials over the period of almost last 30/32 years.
This, he added, is not a short span of time wherein a complete new generation has been grown and therefore the staunchness of our relationships have went beyond the limits of the normal state of historic, cultural and geographical relationships.
The Council General of Afghanistan in Pakistan, Syed Mohammad Ibrahim Khail, also spoke on this occasion. The FATA T-20 cricket team, representing Khyber, Momand and Bajaur agencies was also present and member of this team were also introduced to the Governor besides the members of Pakistan and Afghanistan T-20 Cricket teams.
Barrister Masood Kausar appreciating the holding of the cricket tournament said it is indeed a good step to bring the youth of both the countries especially from Afghanistan to the sports field, who, in fact have been brought up in a situation of war and need to be to allow going through a changed environment.
The way our youth thinks to promote peace through sports, he hoped, would return with success. "We have a number of common cultural, linguistic and religious values and the sports activities would further cement the staunch bonds of relationships between both the countries", he said. While congratulating the organisers for arranging a very useful activity in the name of "Cricket for Peace", the Governor said, "it is beyond doubt a welcoming sign and another practical step for restoration of peace from the cricket field and wished it fullest success.
Referring to the steps underway for promotion of sports especially in FATA, the Governor said, for the first time in the history of the area, FATA Olympic Association has been established recently while a complete FATA Directorate of Sports is functional under the aegis of FATA Secretariat.
The government, he said, is contemplating upon establishing sport complexes in each FATA agency which side by side to the available sports facilities of the province would not only facilitate the local sportsmen fans of sports but would also be available to the Afghan brethren.
The Governor highly eulogised the role and contribution of the Provincial Minister for Sports, Tourism, Archives and Archeology, Syed Aqil Shah, towards promotion of sports activities and said, "indeed the services of his family towards promotion of sports are an asset which are well acknowledged".