Terror attacks won’t shake our resolve for regional peace, COAS tells Afghan envoy

Gen Qamar condemns Thursday's deadly Kandahar attack during meeting with Afghan ambassador at GHQ


News Desk October 20, 2017
Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal calls on army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Friday. PHOTO: ISPR

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has strongly condemned the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, including the one on an Afghan National Army base in Kandahar, saying the two countries have suffered a lot from terrorism.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief said this during a meeting with Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal who called on him at the GHQ on Friday.

“Both the countries [Afghanistan and Pakistan] have suffered a lot from terrorism and such attacks shall not deter our resolve and commitments for peace in the region,” Gen Qamar said.

Dozens killed as Taliban launch fresh assaults on Afghan bases

On Thursday, over 50 Afghan soldiers were killed and nine wounded in a brazen assault on the military base in Kandahar which saw the insurgents blast their way into the compound with at least one explosives-laden Humvee, the Afghan defence ministry said.

The Taliban claimed the ambush in a message to journalists that said all 60 security personnel on the base were killed.

The army chief also expressed his sympathies with the bereaved Afghan families.

‘Peace in Afghanistan must for regional trade’

Afghan ambassador Dr Zakhilwal also called on National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.

“Peace and stability in Afghanistan is critical for regional trade and connectivity,” Janjua said.

Cooperative relationship between the two neighbours will augment trade activity in the area and offer greater connectivity to regional countries, he added.

The two expressed their satisfaction over the recent improvement in bilateral relations in the backdrop of Gen Qamar’s visit to Kabul.

The Afghan envoy reiterated the desire to turn Pak-Afghan relations in the best interest of peace, stability, and development.

The two sides agreed to keep the positive momentum and to overcome all problems through better understanding and regular contacts at all levels.

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