KABUL:Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on Sunday visited Kabul to hold talks with Afghan leadership and assured that Pakistan would extend its full support and cooperation in holding intra-Afghan talks for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
During his day-long visit, Sartaj Aziz held talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Zalmay Rasul. The two sides discussed ways to further promote bilateral relations and prospects for peace in Afghanistan. Later addressing a press conference Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan was ready to help in holding of intra Afghan talks for peace and stability in Afghanistan, if the Afghan leaders asked for it.
He said Pakistan has been trying to help jump start the peace process as a stable Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s own interest.However, he said any peace talks must be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. He said Pakistan would take every step to bring peace in Afghanistan.Sartaj Aziz, who was on his first ever visit to Kabul soon after assuming the charge as Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security, said “PML-N government wants to expand relations with Afghanistan.”
He said his visit brought a message of peace and cooperation from Pakistan. He said Pakistan wanted to remove allbarriers in the way of trade between both the countries. He said expansion in trade would bring prosperity for the people of two countries,besides improving the economy.Sartaj Aziz flew to Kabul to invite President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad to strengthen bilateral relations and to improve strained relations and help peace efforts with the Taliban.
He said, “The main purpose of my visit is to convey a formal invitation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to President Karzai to visit Pakistan.”He said, “We wish Afghanistan a success for those two important milestones.” He reiterated Islamabad’s support for an “Afghan-led and Afghan owned” peace process with the Taliban.“A peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan,” he added. – APP
