Kabul: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Afghanistan Premier Hamid Karzai have agreed to involve Afghan’s arm group including Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami for reconciliation and peace process in the region.
It was stated in the joint statement between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the occasion of the visit to Kabul by Raja Pervez Ashraf
The two leaders discussed the Afghan peace process in great depth, renewing the commitment by the two countries to work together towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process involving the Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami and other armed opposition groups.
The Pakistani side reaffirmed its support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace process, and underlined its determination to redouble efforts in facilitating direct intra-Afghan contacts and negotiations. The two leaders committed to implement additional concrete steps to advance Afghan peace and reconciliation. Both sides agreed to facilitate a conducive environment for the peace and reconciliation process to move forward.
The two leaders also recognized the importance of pursuing multiple channels of communication and contact with the Afghan Taliban and other armed opposition groups. In this context, they emphasized international support for the Afghan peace process and, in particular, welcomed the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Turkey and other countries.
To ensure the timely follow up of the efforts in support of the Afghan peace process, the two sides highlighted the role of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council and looked forward to a successful visit to Islamabad by the Chairman of the High Peace Council. Both sides also agreed to resume regular meetings of the two-tier Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Commission.
With a view to advancing regional cooperation in all its dimensions, the two leaders recognized the importance of regional organisations and fora, including the various trilateral and quadrilateral processes involving Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries. In particular, the two sides welcomed the progress on regional confidence-building through the Istanbul Process and emphasized that enhanced cooperation between Afghanistan and its near and extended neighbors on issues such as narcotics, regional trade and connectivity will create an environment for long-term stability and prosperity. The two leaders looked forward to the upcoming meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Russia-Tajikistan Quadrilateral Summit in Islamabad later this year.
The two leaders held in-depth discussions on various issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation, and re-affirmed the historical, cultural and religious bonds of friendship that exist between the two countries. Both leaders agreed that maintaining a strong, robust and independent bilateral relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan was their mutual priority as it would contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region.
Both sides stressed on the need to work together in the various fields of security, development, transit, trade, economic and investment linkages, mining, infrastructure and energy connectivity and people to people contacts. They recommitted to their shared vision to advance regional peace and stability and, in this context, reaffirmed their strong commitment to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Prime Minister Ashraf thanked President Karzai for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Pakistani delegation during their visit to Kabul.
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