Talking points: Nawaz looks to shore up bilateral ties in day-long Afghanistan visit

PM seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with Afghanistan and revive the peace process.


Web Desk November 29, 2013
PHOTO: AFP/FILE

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Afghanistan on Saturday to meet with President Hamid Karzai.

This visit is coming at an important juncture as political and security transitions are underway in Afghanistan, marked by the upcoming elections and Nato troop withdrawal during 2014, stated the government in a press release on Friday.

The prime minister seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with Afghanistan and he believes that relations should be underpinned by a strong trade and economic partnership, says the release.

The government also emphasised how Pakistan has been extending assistance to Afghanistan in the form of infrastructure, health and education projects, in order to contribute to Afghanistan’s  socio-economic development.

The two countries are also involved in road, rail and connectivity projects and Pakistan has offered Afghanistan US $20 million for training of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

During his visit, Nawaz will also be meeting with Afghanistan's High Peace Council, led by Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani.

This upcoming visit will strengthen the positive momentum in bilateral relations and help intensify common endeavours in the pursuit of durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region, states the government in their release.

COMMENTS (11)

Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

@Zalmai, Once again: Generally it is not my policy to respond to Hindu Indians who hide under Muslim names, but I will make an exception here. Have some courage and come in your real names.

As a Pukhtoon and Pakistani, I have every right to voice my opinion here. Pashto is alive and thriving here in Pakistan, along with numerous dialects and sister languages. No one will doubt that 75% of the world Pukhtoon population resides in Pakistan.

The Durand line seems to have divided only those secular nationalist racist minority who are puppets of foreign powers (like Karzai) to declare themselves superior to religious Afghans and to other Pukhtoons behind an imaginary line in Pakistan.

Tribalism and ethnic fascism has completely destroyed Afghanistan. Tajiks, Hazara, Pukhtoons cannot live in peace in Afghanistan because of this loss of Islam and ethnic chauvinism. It doesn't help the fact that 5 million Pukhtoons have been forced to flee Afghanistan due to persecution from a Non-Pukhtoon government.

Once Again | 10 years ago | Reply

Once again Bakhtiyar feels it absolutely within his right to not only speak for the Pashtun community within the confines of British outlined borders in Pakistan but also those whom reside in Pakistan. I think we're capable of speaking for ourselves.

We don't need friends like Pakistan.

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