Top Afghan official says Pakistan is not a problem, but part of solution

Afghan deputy FM meets NSA Nasser Khan Janjua

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is not part of the problem but solution to the current challenges facing by Afghanistan, said a top Afghan official on Tuesday.

Deputy Afghan Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, who was heading an Afghan delegation for a meeting of Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), called on National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua.

The NSA warmly welcomed the delegates, and congratulated them and the Pakistani team for finalising Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). He expressed the hope that the agreement would be instrumental in bringing both the sides closer.

The Afghan deputy foreign minister said Pakistan and Afghanistan shared many commonalities -- including challenges and opportunities.

He also highlighted the fact that for sustainable peace in Afghanistan, both the countries need to work together. He added that Pakistan has a very important role to play for regional peace and stability.

“Pakistan is not part of the problem but solution,” he remarked.

He also expressed the hope that after the formal finalisation of APAPPS, both the countries will be able to develop a mechanism of sustainable cooperation and will cover the gaps in the way of cordial bilateral relations.



The security adviser said Pakistan and Afghanistan have every reason to come close and cooperate with each other. Both the countries need to reverse the prevailing challenging situation collectively.

Both the countries have immense potential and should complement each other to become a trade corridor by way of the regional connectivity.

“Prosperity is another name of security, we have great future but only we are delaying it,” he added.

Both sides reiterated that the economy should be separated from politics; “rather, economic cooperation should be given a chance to surpass political impediments”.

They agreed to put more efforts to operationalise APAPPS; to take a fresh start; to bridge existing gaps; to build formal mechanism of cooperation in all areas of mutual interests; and to take collective actions to strengthen trust between the two countries.

On Monday, Pakistan and Afghanistan finalised APAPPS to operationalise the six working groups.

APAPPS provides a framework to strengthen mutual trust and deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagements. It is also a mechanism for finding solutions to bilateral areas of concern.

Both the sides agreed that effective and full implementation of APAPPS would contribute towards the common objectives of eliminating terrorism and achieving peace, stability, prosperity and development of the people of the two countries.