Nawaz Sharif assures Karzai support to Afghan peace

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday assured the visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai of his country’s support to the peace and reconciliation process in the war-torn Afghanistan. 

Speaking at a joint news conference Nawaz Sharif with President Hamid Karzai after their official talks in Islamabad he said they held wide-ranging talks on the security and related issues of common interest and focused on the common challenges and the huge opportunities for both countries.

“I reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong and sincere support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. We fully agreed that this process has to be inclusive, Afghan-owned and Afghan-led,” Nawaz Sharif said.

“I assured President Karzai that Pakistan will continue to extend all possible facilitation to the international community’s efforts for the realization of this noble goal,” the Prime Minister said, adding Pakistan would also help reinforce regional efforts in support of stabilization of Afghanistan.

“We believe this is imperative for turning the tide of conflict and instability that has engulfed our region for decades. It is also indispensable for the realization of our positive agenda of peace and development,” Mr Sharif went on to say.

Pakistan and Afghanistan also signed an agreement to boost volume of trade and strengthen economic relationship.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart Umer Zakhelwal inked the agreement.

The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

President Karzai also described his talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as useful and thanked for Pakistan’s support.

“We are advancing the cause of brotherhood between the two countries,” President Hamid Karzai said.

Earlier the two-leaders earlier held one-on-one talks and alter senior members of the delegations joined them, officials said.

The Prime Minister was assisted by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and Director General Inter-services Intelligence Lt.Gen. Zaheerul Islam were also present on the occasion.

President Hamid Karzai was assisted by key ministers and his national security advisor.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 26 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.