Anti-terrorism fight will continue: Faisal, Jalali discuss border security, trade
ISLAMABAD, July 23: Prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, during a meeting with Afghanistan’s minister for interior Ali Ahmed Jalali, on Wednesday reaffirmed Islamabad’s desire to enhance ties with Kabul.
Earlier, federal interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat told his Afghan counterpart that there would be no compromise on terrorism and the fight to end the global menace would continue in the interest of national and regional security.
The Afghan interior minister is here on a two-day-long official visit to Pakistan.
The prime minister told the Afghan minister of the country’s efforts as a member of the international coalition said as a member of international coalition against terrorism.
Stressing the need to further bolster ties between the two countries, the Afghan minister said his country valued its relations with Pakistan.
Earlier, the Afghan minister leading a 11-member police and intelligence delegation was received by Pakistan’s interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat at Islamabad Airport on Wednesday morning.
Mr Hayat, during his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, said Pakistan respected the sovereignty of each and every country, particularly its neighbours, adding that Pakistan also valued the security and sanctity of international border.
“We have a strong resolve (to continue) the war against terrorism. It is in the best interest of the region as well as the world. There will be no compromise on terrorism in any forms and manifestations ... Action will be taken in the interest of national and regional security,” Mr Hayat said.
During the one-on-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, the Afghan minister said the attack on Pakistani embassy in Kabul was only the work of a small minority in Afghanistan. “It does not reflect the feeling of the Afghan nation as a whole,” he said.
He said the security has been tightened in the area around the Pakistani embassy and everyone involved in this crime would be punished in accordance with the law.
The Afghan interior minister expressed his strong commitment to strengthen security mechanisms to adequately address Pakistan’s genuine security apprehensions.
Issues, including Afghan refugees in Pakistan, border security, training of Afghan police officials, goods and drugs smuggling, transit trade facility and Afghan prisoners in Pakistani jails, were discussed in the meeting.
Pakistan’s concerns regarding the involvement of a foreign hand in the subversive activities in the country was also raised.
The Afghan minister condemned violence in all forms and invited his Pakistani counterpart to visit Kabul.
“Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are ... based on non-interference in each other’s affairs,” Mr Jalali said.
He said Afghanistan was rebuilding itself and the challenges it faces were enormous.
AFP adds: Mr Hayat had earlier said the opening of consulates by India in Herat, Kandahar and Jalalabad was a “matter of concern for us” as no significant economic activity had been going on there.
