Ghani terms meeting as a new season of relationships between two countries
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday discussed regional security, bilateral relationship, among other issues with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.
The army chief held a one-on-one meeting with President Ghani at the Presidential Palace followed by a delegation-level talk, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The Afghan president said Afghanistan and Pakistan are friendly countries and together both shall move towards enduring peace and stability, according to the ISPR.
During the meetings, both sides reviewed the prevailing security environment in the region and the bilateral relationship of the two countries.
“Issues related to long-term peace, cooperation against the shared threats, coordination between respective counter-terrorism campaigns to restrict space for non-state actors, intelligence sharing, trade and commerce, and people-to-people contacts were discussed,” the ISPR stated.
The army chief offered Pakistan’s complete support in achieving shared interests in the war against terrorism, including training and capacity building of the Afghan security forces.
Both sides also agreed on the framework for working towards a peaceful environment that is conducive to the political process essential for enduring Afghan peace and regional stability. There was also a consensus on regular and focused dialogue at multiple levels to evolve the bilateral process for minimizing misunderstanding, managing crisis situations and enhancing cooperation in order to bring peace and stability in the region, the ISPR said further.
From the Afghan side, Afghanistan’s second vice president, first deputy chief executive officer, second deputy chief executive officer, national security adviser, intelligence chief, defence minister, interior minister, Kabul’s envoy to Islamabad and the army chief attended the meeting.
Gen Bajwa was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, DG ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul and staff of the army chief.
On his arrival, Gen Bajwa was received by Afghanistan’s army chief and presented a guard of honour.
According to a statement issued by Presidential Palace, Ghani marked the meeting as a new season of relationships between Afghanistan and Pakistan and said good opportunities of cooperation are being provided and both countries should get the most out of the current situation.
According to the statement, Ghani emphasized that task teams should be established by both sides in different sectors to form a clear cooperation framework and to take practical steps in this regard. Ghani also said a monitoring mechanism should be established to make sure both sides implement their promises and that deadlines should be imposed.
Ghani also said both sides should use the current opportunity and added that peace and stability was for the benefit of both Pakistan and Afghanistan and that this could lift the people in both countries out of poverty.
Both sides emphasized that we must forget the past and work hard for a better future, read the statement.
INP
