ISLAMABAD, Sep 15 (APP): Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived here Wednesday on a two day visit to meet the Pakistani leaders and discuss a range of issues aimed at further strengthening ties between the two countries. President Karzai was received at the Chaklala Air Base by Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal. Karzai will be meeting President Asif Ali Zardari later in the day, with an exclusive round followed by delegation level talks, and a joint press conference.
President Zardari will also host a dinner in honour of the Afghan President and his delegation.
He will also meet Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Army Chief Ashfaq Parvaiz Kiyani and Foreign Minister Qureshi and hold wide ranging talks covering political and economic ties, defence and security issues.
President Karzai and the President Zardari have been meeting frequently, the last being the summit at the Black Sea resort of Sochi to discuss the war against terror, the narco trade and economic cooperation.
Pak-Afghan relations have seen vast improvement since the new democratic government was sworn into power in Pakistan with a focus on improved bilateral and economic ties.
The leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan firmly believe that enhanced interaction between their two countries will help better cope with the issues of terrorism and extremism.
Pakistan has always favoured unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and expressed the belief that the two countries can jointly fight the common challenge of terrorism through greater interaction and coordination.
Pakistan has also extended its full support to Afghanistan’s efforts at reconciliation and called for making the reintegration process “broad-based, inclusive, Afghan-owned and Afghan-led.”
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi told an International Conference on Afghanistan in July that this process needs to be consistent with the war-torn country’s social and cultural milieu.
He was also appreciative of the Afghan Consultative Peace Jirga and assured the Afghan government of Pakistan’s support in this regard.
President Karzai last visited Pakistan in March this year. – App
