Call for enhanced Af-Pak trade, dialogue

ISLAMABAD:

Participants of a workshop here on Tuesday stressed the need for increasing trade and people-to-people contacts for stronger bilateral ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan and creating peace in the region.

Civil society representatives from the two countries discussed scores of issues confronting the region, including terrorism, poverty, at a two-day regional civil society workshop that concluded here on Tuesday.

They said that the peace process should continue in line with the internationally-accepted fundamental values.

The Afghan and Pakistani working groups also welcomed the quadrilateral dialogue and the decision taken by respective states to hold another session on February 23.

The members noted that the mutual misperceptions could disrupt the dialogue as well as bilateral relations and thus needed urgent attentions from those at the helm of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The speakers said that the fundamental human rights of Afghan refugees in Pakistan must be upheld.

Beyond Boundaries is a track 1.5 and II initiative launched by Center for Research and Security Studies and DURAN Research and Analysis.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2016.