ISLAMABAD:
Looking to overcome years of mistrust and acrimony between their countries, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani vowed on Saturday to jointly tackle terrorism and begin a new era of economic cooperation.
The two neighbours have long endured testy relations fraught by a sporadic trade of accusations of harbouring each other’s enemies. Their relationship had touched the lowest ebb towards the fag end of the long rule of the previous Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai.
But less than two months after taking over the reins from his predecessor, Ghani is paying his first state visit to Pakistan, and the warm words used by himself and Nawaz at a joint news conference suggested both sides were making a conscious effort to reset relations.
“We have overcome obstacles of 13 years in three days,” said Ghani. “We will not permit the past to destroy the future.” Premier Nawaz called Ghani a ‘dear brother’ and said the two nations had signed agreements to improve train and road links, increase trade and explore defence, border and energy cooperation.
“Our two countries face formidable challenges, including extremism and terrorism, a precarious security environment and trans-national crimes.
“I am convinced that we can effectively meet them, through common resolve and common endeavours,” Nawaz said, adding that he and Ghani had had in-depth consultations on all these issues.
The prime minister said a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s vital national interest. “I also reaffirm Pakistan’s support for an intra-Afghan reconciliation process that the new government is initiating. This process, we agreed, must be fully Afghan led and Afghan owned”.
Nawaz Sharif said he has been consistently emphasising Pakistan’s foremost priority of building a ‘peaceful neighbourhood’. As its fundamental element, he said, he had vision of a strong, comprehensive and enduring partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan contributing to the security and prosperity of the two nations, and reinforcing efforts for peace and development in the region.
“And I appreciate the fact that President Ghani has also a similar vision,” he added.
Nawaz said both sides had recognised the historic opportunity to work together and build a stronger relationship – based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and marked by mutual trust, understanding and close cooperation.
He said Afghanistan was about to commence the ‘transformation decade’. “At this pivotal moment, I assure the brotherly people of Afghanistan that Pakistan will stand by them and support their endeavours for peace and progress,” he added.
President Ghani said the two countries would not allow the past to destroy the future. “We have begun a comprehensive dialogue on security so that all dimensions of our mutual security can be discussed, delineated and benchmarked processes can be arrived at to build confidence,” he said.
Ghani said the most fundamental part was that governments and peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan were going to shape a new narrative that is going to define the future. “In this narrative, our people, particularly the poorest of our people, the most neglected of our people, are going to become stakeholders in a prosperous economy and in stable and peaceful countries,” he said.
About the menace of terrorism, he said any instability in Pakistan affected Afghanistan and any instability in Afghanistan affected Pakistan. “That’s where I think our common understanding of new threats will enable us to delineate pathways where actions will be concrete and speak louder than words,” he added. Ghani also invited Premier Nawaz to visit Kabul.
Agreement and economic ties
The two leaders earlier oversaw the signing ceremony of ‘Agreed Minutes of the Meeting’ which was held between the finance ministers of the two countries on November 13.
During the delegation-level talks, Nawaz Sharif vowed to boost trade, energy and economic linkages for a prosperous future of the countries. The areas identified included border security and defence, Afghanistan’s reconstruction and rehabilitation, capacity building, parliamentary exchanges, and cultural, educational and sports links.
“We reaffirm our resolve to forge a robust economic partnership by expanding trade, promoting investment, improving infrastructure, building road and rail links and enhancing energy collaboration,” Nawaz said.
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Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2014.
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