12 January 2004	Monday	19 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz called on Afghistan's President Hamid Karazai in Kabul on Sunday. The finance minister is currently leading a 10-member Pakistan delegation at the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC).

Economic affairs division secretary Dr Waqar Masood told APP that both the leaders discussed matters of bilateral interest, especially with regard to boosting the two-way economic and trade ties.

Mr Aziz congratulated Mr Karzai on the successful adoption of Afghanistan's constitution by the Afghan Jirga which, he hoped, would pave the way for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He assured the Afghan president that Pakistan will remove more items form the negative list in order to boost trade between the two countries. Mr Karazai also congratulated the finance minister for the success of the recently-concluded Saarc summit, and on the Pakistan-India agreement for moving forward the process of a composite dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir.

This, the Afghan president hoped, would help resolve the Kashmir dispute and restore peace and prosperity in the region. He said that a stable Pakistan was also in the interest of Afghanistan.

Mr Aziz also met Afgh Vice-President Amin Arsala and discussed matters of mutual interest. Both the leaders also agreed to further enhance the existing trade between the two countries. They also agreed to cooperate in various fields, including the financial and banking sector. -APP