KABUL, Afghanistan: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday along with a delegation paid a day-long visit to Kabul wherein during talks with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the two sides agreed on the importance of Afghan owned & Afghan led peace process.
During the talks held at Afghan Presidential Palace in Kabul, the two sides discussed relations between the two Countries, fight against terrorism, Afghan-led peace talks, return of Afghan refugees, prisoners exchange and Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity.
They agreed on achieving the common aim of regional security through connectivity.
Pres. @ashrafghani welcomed PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on an official visit to Kabul; the visit is part of the comprehensive dialogue, envisioned by Pres. Ghani during the Kabul Process Conference. Both side agreed on the importance of Afghan owned & Afghan led peace process. pic.twitter.com/m5Ld8AaQDi
— ارگ (@ARG_AFG) April 6, 2018
They also discussed regional connectivity, Quetta-Kandahar-Herat and Peshawar-Jalalabad railways,Peshawar-Kabul motor-way, counter terrorism, return of Afghan refugees based on agreed time-frame, initiate paper work on exchange of prisoners & shelling from across the Durand line.
— ارگ (@ARG_AFG) April 6, 2018
In his remarks, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi welcomed the Afghan government’s peace offer to the Taliban. He said an Afghan-led peace process was the only way to stability in the Country, and Pakistan was ready for cooperation in that respect.
The Afghan president reiterated that the current situation didn’t benefit anyone and that any concerns in that respect should have been addressed through talks.
The two sides agreed that delegations of both Countries would prepare a timeline and mechanism for return of Afghan refugees to the Country.
The prime minister also invited the Afghan president for an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also held a meeting with the Afghan Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and discussed bilateral issues including fight against terrorism, reduction of violence, peace, shelling on Afghan territory, exemption of regulatory tax on Afghan exports and return of Afghan refugees.
Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah met Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for discussions on bilateral issues including fight against terrorism, reduction of violence, peace, shelling on Afghan territory, exemption of regulatory tax on Afghan exports & return of Afg refugees. pic.twitter.com/1zwaExFAgc
— Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) April 6, 2018
Besides, the prime minister also met the Chairman High Peace Council Ustad Karim Khalili, the Leader of Hizb-e-Wahdat Ustaad Muhammad Mohaqiq, the Head of National Islamic Front of Afghanistan Pir Syed Hamed Galani, and the Leader of Hizb-e-Islami Gulbadin Hekmatyar.
کابل :وزیراعظم شاہد خاقان عباسی سے چیئرمین ہائی پیس کونسل استاد کریم خلیلی کی ملاقات pic.twitter.com/zKApsQjH2y
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 6, 2018
کابل:وزیراعظم سے حزب وحدت کے لیڈر استاد محمد محقق کی ملاقات pic.twitter.com/o5OGNDSMK2
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 6, 2018
Leader Hizb-e-Islami Gulbadin Hekmatyar called on PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Kabul today. pic.twitter.com/tLpqb62D3p
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 6, 2018
Meanwhile, Foreign Office of Pakistan released following Press Statement about the visit of Prime Minister Abbasi to Kabul:
At the invitation of President Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accompanied by Foreign Minister, Interior Minister, Governor KP and National Security Adviser Gen Janjua visited Kabul, today (April 6, 2018)
President Ghani and Prime Minister Abbasi held one on one meeting followed by delegation level talks at the Afghan Presidential Palace.
President Ghani and Prime Minister Abbasi discussed the entire gamut of Pak-Afghan relations including peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, return of Afghan refugees, bilateral trade and regional connectivity.
The two leaders agreed that Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) provided a useful framework for broad based and structured engagement on all issues of mutual interest and decided to operationalize the five working groups under APAPPS.
Prime Minister Abbasi welcomed President Ghani’s vision for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and his offer of peace talks to Taliban. Both leaders called on the Taliban to respond positively to the peace offer and join the peace process without further delay. They agreed that there was no military solution to the ongoing Afghan conflict and that the political solution was the best way forward.
The two leaders reiterated that terrorism was a common enemy and threat. They agreed not to allow their soils to be used for anti-state activities against each other.
Both the leaders agreed that peace, prosperity and stability of the two countries are interlinked. They reaffirmed their resolve to work together to address all issues of bilateral and transit trade. They also expressed their firm resolve not to allow politics to affect their economic relationship which was important for the welfare of the peoples of the two countries.
