Friday, 24 October 2008
ISLAMABAD (APP) -- Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to collaborate closely to eliminate the scourge of extremism, militancy and terrorism, with regular contacts on political, military, security and intelligence tracks.
The two sides reached this agreement during the talks held here today between Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, who paid an official visit to Islamabad on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart.
According to a joint press release issued at the conclusion Dr. Spanta's visit, the two foreign ministers emphasized that extremism and terrorism posed a common threat to the two countries as well as to the regional and international peace.
During the visit, the Afghan Foreign Minister held talks with his counterpart as well as the President, Speaker National Assembly and the National Security Advisor.
The visit took place in the light of understanding reached between Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Hamid Karzai during their fruitful meeting in Colombo on August 3, in which the two Foreign Ministers were mandated to prepare a framework of constructive engagement across the board.
The talks were very constructive and took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere characteristic of the brotherly relations between the two countries.
In the talks, the Foreign Ministers discussed a wide range of important subjects pertaining to bilateral cooperation, regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.
In the spirit of a new beginning to the Afghanistan and Pakistan bilateral relations, the two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on ways to articulate a new vision for their bilateral relations as well as for the region.
They highlighted the enormous potential of the region to become the abode of peace, moderation and prosperity for the two countries and the entire region.
Pakistan shared a draft Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation which will be finalized soon.
Both sides agreed to comprehensively upgrade their bilateral relations and to hold regularly Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers.
The Foreign Ministers will oversee the work of a Specialized Commission in all disciplines notably, political, security and economic sectors.
The two Foreign Ministers noted with satisfaction the convening of Jirga Gai in Islamabad on October 27-28.
They also expressed satisfaction at the preparatory work for the holding of 7th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in Kabul in the second half of November and 3rd Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) in January next in Islamabad.
Responding to the serious concern expressed on the abduction of Ambassador-designate of Afghanistan to Pakistan, Abdul Khaleq Farahi, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed deep anguish at the unfortunate abduction of the Ambassador-designate and assured Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta that the Government of Pakistan will leave no stone un-turned for the safe and early recovery of the Ambassador-designate.
On behalf of President Hamid Karzai, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta extended a warm and cordial invitation to President Zardari to visit Afghanistan in the near future.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan also accepted the invitation by the Afghan Foreign Minister to visit Kabul at his earliest convenience.
October 23, 2008
Tehran Times
