May 11 , 2015
News
Nawaz, Gen Sharif attend high-level meeting prior to Kabul visit
During the visit, Nawaz will have tête-à-tête with Ghani, who will host a luncheon for PM
INPISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Afghanistan tomorrow (Tuesday) at the invitation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
The prime minister will be accompanied by Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and senior officials. The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s House here on Monday to discuss all dimensions of the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, DG ISI and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry among other senior government officials.
Those attending the meeting reiterated the need to consolidate and further improve bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. This will be the prime minister’s second visit to Afghanistan and the first after the installation of national unity government in Kabul. Earlier, the prime minister visited Afghanistan on 30 November 2013.
During the visit, Nawaz will have tête-à-tête with President Ashraf Ghani, who will also host a luncheon for the prime minister. Other engagements of the prime minister will include a meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah and delegation-level talks with the Afghan side. Building close cooperative relations with Afghanistan is a high priority in Pakistan’s foreign policy and a vital component of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a peaceful neighbourhood.
The prime minister's visit is taking place at a time when bilateral relations between the two countries are underpinned by unprecedented warmth, mutual trust and a shared vision of working in lockstep to build a peaceful and stable region. Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Afghanistan would further strengthen the positive momentum in bilateral relations and help intensify common endeavours in the pursuit of durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Sources described it as an important visit as Pakistan is working very actively to bring the Taliban to negotiating table with Afghan government for bringing peace and stability in the war torn country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk