Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday agreed to pace up their joint efforts to reduce recent spate of terrorist incidents in Afghanistan through close coordination and intelligence sharing.
Imran Khan, who arrived in the Afghan capital on his maiden visit to the neighbouring country, held talks with President Ghani, that focused on deepening of bilateral ties, Intra-Afghan peace process and regional economic development. Prime Minister Imran Khan and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a joint press stake-out at ARG Presidential Palace reaffirmed their commitment towards taking urgent steps leading to restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Khan assured the Afghan government of Pakistan’s unflinching support and cooperation to end violence in Afghanistan including a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Imran Khan landed in Kabul on his first official visit visit to Afghanistan on Thursday afternoon, where he was given a warm welcome by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
Upon arrival at Kabul airport, the Prime Minister and his delegation were received by Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Afghan President’s Special Representative for Pakistan Mohammad Umer Daudzai and other senior officials. Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan and other embassy officials also present to receive Imran Khan
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, DG ISI Lt. Gen. Faiz Hamid, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, Special Representative for Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq and senior officials are accompanying the Prime Minister.
A statement from PM Office said the visit includes a one on one meeting with the Afghan President, delegation level talks and a joint press stake-out.
“The focus will be on further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity.”
“The Prime Minister’s visit builds on the sustained engagement between the two countries in recent months for enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse fields,” the PMO said
“The Prime Minister’s visit will help foster a stronger and multi-faceted relationship between the two brotherly countries,” the statement added.
The visit comes in the context of the Afghan peace process reaching a critical juncture, and uncertainty surrounding the US troop withdrawal from the country following the the election of Joe Biden the US presidency.
