Prime Minister’s Phone call with President Ashraf Ghani

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Imran Khan had a telephonic conversation with President Ashraf Ghani Friday. The two leaders exchanged views on Afghan peace process and strengthening of Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral engagement. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support to the Afghan peace process and noted the positive results of these efforts culminating in U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement and the commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations. He also appreciated the steps taken by relevant sides to enable the start of Intra-Afghan Negotiations in Doha. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of all Afghan parties working for reduction in violence leading to ceasefire.  The Prime Minister further underscored that all Afghan stakeholders must seize this historic opportunity and work together to secure an inclusive and comprehensive political agreement through the Afghan-led and Afghan-owed process. The Prime Minister emphasized that Pakistan will fully support the decisions that the Afghan people will take about their future. On the bilateral plane, the Prime Minister underlined the importance Pakistan attaches to constructive engagement with Afghanistan and to peace, stability and prosperity of the Afghan people. The Prime Minister noted that the Chairman of Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, will be visiting Islamabad next week. The Prime Minister also thanked President Ashraf Ghani for the invitation extended to him to visit Afghanistan and conveyed that he will undertake the visit at the earliest opportunity. NNI