OIC summit: Zardari, Karzai discuss bilateral ties

Zardari assures that Pakistan would continue to extend support for peace, stability of Afghanistan.

MAKKAH: President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit, convened by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in Makkah, to discuss challenges facing the Muslim community and to further strengthen unity and solidarity in the Muslim world.     

The two leaders discussed bilateral ties, regional situation, peace process in Afghanistan and other issues of mutual concern.

Zardari assured Karzai that Pakistan would continue to extend all out support for peace, stability and socio-economic development of Afghanistan.

The president said that as Pakistan and Afghanistan were linked with historic cultural, religious, brotherly and neighbourly bonds, the destinies of the two nations were inter-twined.

He added that Pakistan considers Afghanistan’s peace and security as its own peace and security and that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was also in Pakistan’s interest.

Zardari expressed his satisfaction over the fact that there existed multi-faceted cooperation between the countries on an institutional level.

The two leaders were unanimous in the view that all groups should shun violence and join the peace process in Afghanistan, for peace and stability of the region.

During the meeting, the two leaders also exchanged views on issues of international importance as well as the challenges facing the Muslim community.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Muhammad Naeem Khan were also present during the meeting.