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Islamabad , Pakistan has handed over draft of Strategic Partnership Agreement to Afghanistan to further build up bilateral relations with the neighboring country.
The document was shared by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during a meeting with her Afghan counterpart Dr Zalmay Rassoul in Islamabad on Friday.
Both the sides agreed to hold Ulema Conference in Kabul and operationlize the joint commission on prisoners release.
The two sides also agreed to extend the Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to Tajikistan in the first phase and then extend it to the other Central Asian countries for enhancement of regional trade.
Later addressing a joint news conference, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the visit of Afghan foreign minister marks the initiation of negotiations on the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister expressed keeness of Pakistan to build strong bilateral relations with Afghanistan on the basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality.
She said it is Pakistans strong desire to further strengthen cultural and religious affinities existing between the two neighboring countries.
Referring to the frequent visits of Pakistani leaders to Kabul, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said this reflects the emphasis and importance that Pakistan attaches to its relations with Afghanistan.
Referring to the hiccups in relations, she said the frequent visits have helped both the countries understand each others perspective. We have started seeing the dividends of those visits.
Reaffirming support to Afghan led, Afghan driven and Afghan led reconciliation process, the Foreign Minister said her country will continue to play the role of a facilitator in the peace process. Pakistan will pursue the track which the Afghans choose for itself.
Hina Rabbani Khar said that both the countries face common challenges of terrorism and narcotics and collective efforts are required to deal with these challenges.
Referring to the trade potential between Pakistan and Afghanistan, she said the bilateral trade currently stands at 2.5 billion dollars. There is a great potential to further increase this volume.
She hoped that extension of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to Tajikistan and then the other central asian countries will help exploit the strategic position of Afghanistan to enhance regional trade.
It will certainly be a win win situation for both Pakistan and Afghanistan and the region.
Emphasizing upon greater people to people contacts, the foreign minister said Pakistan is an aid recipient but Afghanistan is the only country where Pakistan is extending assistance. Currently projects worth 300 million dollars are being implemented in Afghanistan.
Besides, Pakistan is offering seven thousand scholarships to the Afghans.
Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul said his country sees relations with Pakistan as the most significant one in terms of the common challenges faced by both the countries.
He said his country will never allow its soil used against Pakistan. Afghanistan will do everything possible to avoid the damage coming from Pakistan.
He said shelling into Pakistan from Afghan side has reduced significantly recently and both the countries need to work together to sort out the issues.
He said both the countries need to work together to unlock the potential of honest and result oriented cooperation based on mutual interest and respect.
Zalmay Rasool said peace in Afghanistan is a prerequisite for peace and stability in Pakistan and the region. He said Pakistan has a crucial role to play in the success of reconciliation processs. We expect honest and concrete support in the peace process.
The Afghan Foreign Minister said we want the Afghan Taliban to return to their homeland and contribute in the peace, progress and development of the country.
Responding to a question, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan is mindful of the issue of shelling from the Afghan side but it is not indulging in any blame game.
The Afghan foreign minister said there is a complete consensus on the peace process in Afghanistan. This is the reason that women have also been part of this process.
He said his country is committed to the peace process because the people have suffered greatly in the last many years. He expressed the confidence that the peace process will make forward movement.
Answering a question about the strategic partnership agreement, both the foreign ministers expressed the confidence that it will be finalized soon to build stronger bilateral relations.
Pak hands over draft of strategic partnership agreement to Afghanistan | Pakistan News
The document was shared by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during a meeting with her Afghan counterpart Dr Zalmay Rassoul in Islamabad on Friday.
Both the sides agreed to hold Ulema Conference in Kabul and operationlize the joint commission on prisoners release.
The two sides also agreed to extend the Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to Tajikistan in the first phase and then extend it to the other Central Asian countries for enhancement of regional trade.
Later addressing a joint news conference, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the visit of Afghan foreign minister marks the initiation of negotiations on the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister expressed keeness of Pakistan to build strong bilateral relations with Afghanistan on the basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality.
She said it is Pakistans strong desire to further strengthen cultural and religious affinities existing between the two neighboring countries.
Referring to the frequent visits of Pakistani leaders to Kabul, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said this reflects the emphasis and importance that Pakistan attaches to its relations with Afghanistan.
Referring to the hiccups in relations, she said the frequent visits have helped both the countries understand each others perspective. We have started seeing the dividends of those visits.
Reaffirming support to Afghan led, Afghan driven and Afghan led reconciliation process, the Foreign Minister said her country will continue to play the role of a facilitator in the peace process. Pakistan will pursue the track which the Afghans choose for itself.
Hina Rabbani Khar said that both the countries face common challenges of terrorism and narcotics and collective efforts are required to deal with these challenges.
Referring to the trade potential between Pakistan and Afghanistan, she said the bilateral trade currently stands at 2.5 billion dollars. There is a great potential to further increase this volume.
She hoped that extension of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to Tajikistan and then the other central asian countries will help exploit the strategic position of Afghanistan to enhance regional trade.
It will certainly be a win win situation for both Pakistan and Afghanistan and the region.
Emphasizing upon greater people to people contacts, the foreign minister said Pakistan is an aid recipient but Afghanistan is the only country where Pakistan is extending assistance. Currently projects worth 300 million dollars are being implemented in Afghanistan.
Besides, Pakistan is offering seven thousand scholarships to the Afghans.
Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul said his country sees relations with Pakistan as the most significant one in terms of the common challenges faced by both the countries.
He said his country will never allow its soil used against Pakistan. Afghanistan will do everything possible to avoid the damage coming from Pakistan.
He said shelling into Pakistan from Afghan side has reduced significantly recently and both the countries need to work together to sort out the issues.
He said both the countries need to work together to unlock the potential of honest and result oriented cooperation based on mutual interest and respect.
Zalmay Rasool said peace in Afghanistan is a prerequisite for peace and stability in Pakistan and the region. He said Pakistan has a crucial role to play in the success of reconciliation processs. We expect honest and concrete support in the peace process.
The Afghan Foreign Minister said we want the Afghan Taliban to return to their homeland and contribute in the peace, progress and development of the country.
Responding to a question, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan is mindful of the issue of shelling from the Afghan side but it is not indulging in any blame game.
The Afghan foreign minister said there is a complete consensus on the peace process in Afghanistan. This is the reason that women have also been part of this process.
He said his country is committed to the peace process because the people have suffered greatly in the last many years. He expressed the confidence that the peace process will make forward movement.
Answering a question about the strategic partnership agreement, both the foreign ministers expressed the confidence that it will be finalized soon to build stronger bilateral relations.
Pak hands over draft of strategic partnership agreement to Afghanistan | Pakistan News
