ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on security which will be co-chaired by the Foreign Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister and include representatives of relevant security institutions, the Foreign Office said.
The agreement was reached in delegation-level talks between the Pakistani side led by the prime minister’s advisor on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz and the Afghan side led by the Afghan National Security Advisor Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta in Islamabad on Thursday.
The Afghan delegation included the Afghan National Security Advisor, senior officials of Afghan Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and National Security Council.
During the talks, both sides agreed on the need to take action against all terrorists without making any distinction among them and their hideouts on their respective sides.
The two sides agreed that terrorism was a common enemy and emphasized closer cooperation and coordination at institutional level to deal with this common menace. They also agreed to hold a meeting of their relevant officials in Islamabad on July 3 to enhance their security coordination.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to building a comprehensive bilateral relationship, marked by enhanced trade and economic partnership.
The Pakistani side reaffirmed providing all-out support to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
It was agreed to further strengthen bilateral engagement at all levels for addressing each other’s concerns and pursuing the cause of peace and stability in the region.
Earlier, the Afghan National Security Advisor called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and delivered the Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s letter. In response, the prime minister welcomed President Karzai’s letter and Dr Spanta’s visit to Pakistan.
During the meeting, both sides reiterated their common resolve to further enhance the bilateral relationship in all dimensions in a meaningful and result-oriented manner.
The Afghan National Security Advisor also had a meeting with the Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.
