Parliamentary ties: Islamabad, Kabul to boost cooperation

Afghan parliamentary delegation meets senators.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan attaches great importance to boost collaboration with Afghanistan and significant progress has been made in this regard since the democratic government has come to power, Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek said while talking to members of an Afghan Parliamentary delegation who called on him at the Parliament House on Wednesday.

A press release said: “We strongly support the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of …Afghanistan.”

Highlighting the common threat of terrorism being faced by the two countries, Naek said: “Pakistan is against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

We are the biggest victims of terrorism … We have lost thousands of innocent civilians and valiant personnel of the armed forces. Terrorism has badly affected our economy and day-to-day lives. It is a common threat that requires a common response.”

The Senate chairman said: “Peace, security and stability in Afghanistan is vital for peace…in Pakistan. An independent, peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan, region and the world.”

Sayed Ishaq Gailani, the leader of the Afghan delegation, thanked the chairman and honourable Members of the Senate for their hospitality.

Expressing a strong desire and commitment to further enhance ties with Pakistan, members of the delegation said that Pakistan and Afghanistan “will make all possible efforts to enhance the relations between the two countries”.

Later, addressing a joint press conference, co-chairpersons of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Dialogue Sayed Ishaq Gailani, member of the Afghan Wolesi Jirga and Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, said that parliamentary dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan “must continue to strengthen bilateral ties”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2011.