ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that peace in Afghanistan was critical for the peace and security in Pakistan, and said that it does not want any political settlement in Afghanistan that would destabilise Pakistan.
Talking to Afghan Senate delegation on Tuesday afternoon, Gilani reiterated that Pakistan would continue to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process that would not cause instability in Pakistan.
The prime minister said that both Afghanistan and Pakistan are victims of terrorism and they should get united to fight against the common enemy.
A delegation of Afghan Senators, led by Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar, called on the prime minister and emphasised the need of exchange of parliamentary delegations to further strengthen the brotherly relations between the people of the two countries.
The prime minister said that the exchange visits of parliamentarians were essential to enhance bilateral relations, and Pakistan had always made consistent and sincere efforts to improve relations with Afghanistan.
Gilani recalled that Pakistan extended full cooperation to the Afghan team that visited Islamabad with regard to the investigation of Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani’s assassination.
He further said that Pakistan was committed to complete the construction of Torkham-Jalalabad Road.
Pakistan is offering 2000 fully funded scholarships to the Afghan students and has agreed to enhance the number of scholarships on the request of the leader of the Afghan delegation, the prime minister assured.
Earlier, Chairman Senate Farooq H Naik, while addressing the members of the Afghan delegation, said that Pakistan attached much importance to its relations with Afghanistan because both the countries share a common religion, culture, history and geographical proximity.
Leader of Afghan delegation Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar, in his speech, highlighted the commonalities between the people of the two countries spread over the centuries adding that this had brought them together to strive for the common destiny of peace and prosperity.
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Dear Mirza,
It is in the best interests of the U.S. and Pakistan to see Afghanistan succeed against terrorism. At the moment, our forces are fully focused on helping ANSF (Afghan Nation Security Forces) gain the capability to independently protect their nation. It is important that we don’t waste the hard work by rushing the process. The seriousness of the situation requires us to be very cautious during this transition phase. The results are very encouraging so far, and ANSF have already begun assuming securities responsibilities in many areas throughout Afghanistan. Dear Mirza, you can rest assured that everything is moving according to the plan and that the day is not far off when the ANSF will be independently protecting their nation.
We fully appreciate the support Pakistan continues to provide in the WOT. It is no secret that Pakistan plays an important role in the region, and we certainly hope to improve our communication and coordination for the sake of defeating our common enemies. We cannot speak on behalf of the Pakistani government, but what we can say is that both nations have mutual interests in the region, and wish to see the region free and clear of terrorism.
@ Hassan Ahmed Afghans have right over Pakistan, Because of money meant for afghanistan, Pakistan could finance their atomic bomb. At least the scientist were a bit honest and conceded this fact by naming their missiles after Afghan Kings. So brother just wake up and show some heart. Not only that when the time came all the generals in the army and ISI sold afghans to foreigners. But how ironic is it that today they are all regretting such coward and backstabbing acts to fellow muslims. I hope that the pakistani establishment has finaly realised this fact. Pakistan if it wants good future for its overpopulated country should in my view pursue a benign policy towards Afghanistan. I wished they had done so in the last thirty years. Imagine if they had done so, everyone in Afghanistan would have loved pakistan and pakistanis.
first worry about peace in pakistan...........
I wonder if the pm mentioned the six young shepherds who went missing from the Mohmand agency at the Pak-Afghan border? In fact, I highly doubt he was even aware of this incident. We don't need more ungrateful afghans in Pakistan. Our government has failed to cater quality education to the Pakistani people and they're out there providing scholarships to the afghans? This is ridiculous.
Can all foreign powers including Pakistan and the US please leave Afghans alone?
But who would convince the US puppet Karzai??