Parliamentarians from Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday called for constituting a joint working group of parliamentarians of both the countries with a view to remove the mistrust between the people of the two countries and suggest measures for further improving bilateral relations.
The suggestion was floated by visiting Speaker Wolesy Jirga [lower house of the parliament] of Afghanistan Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi during his interaction with members of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs during a meeting chaired by its chairman Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari. The idea was endorsed by chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee who stated that the proposal would be shared with Speaker National Assembly and also urged the visiting delegation to initiate work on the idea as soon as possible on their side.
Ibrahimi, who is leading a six-member high level Afghan parliamentary delegation's visit to the country, stated that it was enough what the two nations witnessed during the past several years and now they needed to open a new chapter of bilateral relations and enhanced cooperation. "We need to seriously think for the betterment of our people before it's too late and come up with effective measures to bring peace and stability in the region, as parliamentarians from both the sides can play an effective role to bring the two people closer," he said.
He said that Afghans believe that only those who are the "architects" of the unrest in the two countries will benefit from the present crisis. He said that there were people in Pakistan and in its parliament whom the Afghans trust and they can play an important role in bringing the two countries together. "I feel no hesitation in expressing that when we left Kabul for Pakistan our fears and perception were different altogether from what we are now after meeting the Pakistani brothers here", he said.
He also thanked the government and people of Pakistan for helping to recover the recently abducted former Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi and said that this could only be the work of Pakistan's and Afghanistan's enemy and that the two states needed to counter any efforts that was not in the mutual interest of the neighbourly countries.
He further said that the two countries should continue to exchange parliamentary delegation more regularly to raise the level of trust. The members of both the sides also stressed the need for exchange of parliamentary delegation between the two countries to work more closely on different areas particularly enhancing the trust level between the two countries. They underscored the need for identifying the common enemies and tackling them with joint efforts.
Earlier, in his welcoming remarks, Leghari said that people to people contacts and interactions were very vital for bringing the two brotherly countries closer. He further said that the Foreign Affairs Committee was focusing on improving the policy planning mechanism by incorporating the opinion and recommendations of the subject specialist and experts during public hearing of the Committee.
He further said that the committee was currently discussing the means and ways as how to improve the Pak-Afghan relations and identify the areas which needs special attentions like border management, trade, regularisation of Hawala market, narcotics, Refugee situations and the media. He said Pakistan strongly supports the Afghan-led peace process which is instrumental for the security. He also emphasised to improve certain areas such as infrastructures, agriculture, health, education, communication, information technology, and regulation for improved logistics performance.
He further said that Pakistan wants return of Afghan refugees in dignified manner, adding that Pakistan also wishes to see greater media consultation and interaction in the future. Leghari said that cessation of hostile propaganda on Afghanistan and easing current media regulation for Afghan media would help clear the environment of mistrust that is serving the vested interest of some who do not wish to see peace in the region. The Chairman said that the interaction and recommendations of the committee would be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was attended by Mehmood Khan Achakazai, Ghous Bux Khan Maher, Daniyal Aziz, Mohammad Khan Daha, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Rana Mohammad Afzal Khan, Dr Shireen Mazari, Naeema Kishwar Khan, Khusro Bakhtyar and others.