Brotherly ties: Karzai invites Nawaz to Kabul

Karzai’s invitation is the first received by Nawaz after becoming PM.

ISLAMABAD:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was the first head of state to officially invite newly-elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Afghanistan.

Karzai on Thursday telephoned Nawaz and felicitated him on his assumption of the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Karzai also extended him an invitation to visit Kabul. This is the first ever invite for Nawaz Sharif from any head of the state for a trip abroad after assuming office as the premier.

The prime minister accepted the invitation, thanked the Afghan president for the invite and said that he was looking forward to visit Afghanistan.

Earlier, while talking to the prime minister, Hamid Karzai extended his best wishes and expressed the hope that both brotherly countries will continue to work for further improvement towards a constructive bilateral relationship, which would promote peace and stability in the region.

Karzai also appreciated the smooth transition of power in a democratic way in Pakistan.

Sources told The Express Tribune that both leaders discussed substantial issues pertaining to ties with the United Sates. The withdrawal of US troops in 2014 and Pakistan’s new policy towards a dialogue with the Taliban remained the focal concern during the conversation.

Meanwhile, Iranian Pre­sident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also felicitated the newly elected prime minister.

He expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would excel under Nawaz’s leadership.

Sources said that later during a telephonic conversation with Nawaz, Ahmadinejad hoped that the ongoing mega gas pipeline project would be completed within the agreed time frame.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2013.