ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will undertake his maiden visit to Kabul today (Thursday), focusing on deepening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chadurhi, the prime minister will leave for Kabul today (Thursday) on a day-long official visit on the invitation of President Ashraf Ghani.

He said it was the prime minister’s first visit to Afghanistan since assuming office in which he would also be accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, his adviser on commerce and investment Abdul Razak Dawood, and other senior officials.

The prime minister’s programme includes tête-à-tête with President Ashraf Ghani, delegation-level talks, and joint press stake-out.

“The focus would be on further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity,” he said.

He said the prime minister’s visit was part of regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

President Ashraf Ghani had last visited Pakistan in June 2019.

Earlier, the two leaders had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 14th OIC Summit in Makkah in May 2019.

The prime minister also had a telephonic conversation with President Ashraf Ghani in September 2020.

“The prime minister’s visit builds on the sustained engagement between the two countries in recent months for enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse fields,” Chaudhri said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020