ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to pay a day long visit to Afghanistan next week to discuss issues of mutual interest, bilateral relations, and the Afghan peace process. Diplomatic sources said the prime minister along with a high-level delegation comprising civil and military officials will meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, chairman Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), and other Afghan leadership.

During their talks, they said the two sides would hold discussions on enhancing bilateral ties, regional situations particularly the Afghan peace process, which has entered a crucial stage with the start of intra-Afghan negotiations in Qatar in Sep this year. "Pakistan is extending every possible assistance to the Afghan peace process to succeed and efforts are also being made to persuade the warring groups for complete reduction of violence and lastly the permanent ceasefire," a diplomatic source said.

Besides, he added that the economic cooperation between the two countries and the Afghan transit trade would also come under discussion. PM's Advisor on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, along with a delegation, is also scheduled to visit Kabul from Nov 16-18 to discuss the prospects of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and a new draft of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), which is going to expire in Feb.

Earlier on Thursday, the newly-appointed Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah Alikhil met with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the GHQ in Rawalpindi and discussed issues of mutual interest as well as the Afghan peace process.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020