ISLAMABAD, July 24: Interior ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday emphasized on friendly ties between the two countries, reiterating their respective governments’ resolve of not allowing any individual or organization to operate from their soil to work against any of the two neighbours.

Afghan Foreign minister Ali Ahmed Jalali and his Pakistani counterpart Faisal Saleh Hayat were speaking at a joint press conference here at the interior ministry on Thursday.

Both the sides expressed satisfaction over what they termed the productive talks they had held in a friendly atmosphere.

Mr Jalali said: “I am satisfied with the discussion and hoped that Pakistan will not allow individuals to subvert the Afghan government as a stable Afghanistan is in the best interests of Pakistan.”

Interior minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said: “Pakistan deeply values the security and sanctity attached to the international border,” he said.

Asked if any border dispute existed between the two countries, Mr Hayat said there was no dispute in this regard, adding that, the sub-committee of the tripartite commission has been activated to look into the views of both the sides on such matters.

He said Pakistan was committed to helping the re- construction efforts of Afghanistan and referred to the $100 million it had pledged for the task.

Besides discussing security matters and border issues, they also talked about repatriation of Afghan refugees, border security, training of the Afghan police, drug smuggling, misuse of the transit trade facility and the issue of Afghan prisoners in Pakistani jails.

Referring to reports about re-grouping of Taliban, Mr Hayat said Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used. “We will come down hard against anyone trying to do so.”

Talking about Pakistani prisoners in Afghanistan, the Afghan interior minister said that 65 Pakistani prisoners had recently been released, adding that there were about 670 Pakistanis still languishing in Afghanistan jails, of which 540 were in Shabargan while 130 were confined in Kabul.

“Efforts are being made for their early repatriation,” he said.

Referring to the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the visiting minister said these refugees would stay in Pakistan till the completion of the re-construction process in his country.

Most of the Afghan refugees, he said, had develop family links in Pakistan, adding that they should be allowed to travel freely between the two countries. The Pakistan government should issue special permits to them in this regard.

Afghan interior minister Ali Ahmed Jalali contested allegations levelled by Pakistan regarding Indian consulates’ involvement in the recent attack on Pakistani embassy in Kabul or the terrorist incidents in Balochistan, saying they were not involved in these incidents.

The Afghan foreign minister, while referring to cross-border violations, he said these intrusions continued from the Pakistani side as “intruders entered into Afghan territory killing Afghan labourers and workers.”

Mr Jalali said the attacks on Pakistani embassy in Kabul and recent killings in Quetta should not be linked with establishment of Indian consulates in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan was already being subjected to terrorist attacks even before the establishment of Indian consulates in three Afghan cities,” he said.

Mr Jalali said the Afghan government had taken appropriate steps to protect Pakistan’s interests and security has been tightened to safeguard the lives of Pakistanis in Afghanistan.

He asserted that a small group of Afghan people were behind the attack on Pakistani embassy.