Pakistan Will Back Afghan Peace Process, Sharif Tells Karzai

Islamabad, Aug 27, IRNA – Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday assured the visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai of his country’s support to the peace and reconciliation process in war-torn Afghanistan. Speaking at a joint news conference, Sharif said they held wide-ranging talks on the security and related issues of common interest and focused on the common challenges and the huge opportunities for both countries. “I reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong and sincere support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. We fully agreed that this process has to be inclusive, Afghan-owned and Afghan-led,” Nawaz Sharif said. “I assured President Karzai that Pakistan will continue to extend all possible facilitation to the international community’s efforts for the realization of this noble goal,” the Prime Minister said, adding Pakistan would also help reinforce regional efforts in support of stabilization of Afghanistan. “We believe this is imperative for turning the tide of conflict and instability that has engulfed our region for decades. It is also indispensable for the realization of our positive agenda of peace and development,” Sharif added. Pakistan and Afghanistan also signed an agreement to boost volume of trade and strengthen economic relationship. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart Umer Zakhelwal inked the agreement. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Karzai, for his part, described his talks with Sharif as useful and thanked for Pakistan’s support. We are advancing the cause of brotherhood between both countries, Karzai said. Earlier the two-leaders earlier held one-on-one talks and alter senior members of the delegations joined them, officials said. The Prime Minister was assisted by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and Director General of Inter-services Intelligence Lt.Gen. Zaheerul Islam were also present on the occasion. Karzai was assisted by key ministers and his national security advisor./end