ISLAMABAD, April 8: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali assured Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Zalmai Rasoul on Thursday Pakistan's consistent support to the process of reconciliation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The prime minister told the visiting dignitary, who called on him here, that in view of the manifold commonalities Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan were of special significance.

Earlier, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to evolve joint strategy to reinforce security on their border and curb drug trafficking. Mr Jamali expressed the hope that peace and tranquillity would return soon to Afghanistan to facilitate the process of national reconciliation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

He assured Dr Zalmai Rasoul that Pakistan would continue assisting Afghanistan in every possible manner. He recalled the highly useful exchange of views he had had with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during his visit to Afghanistan in January this year. Mr Jamali was the first head of the state or government to visit Afghanistan after adoption of the new constitution.

Dr Rasoul told the prime minister that President Karzai attached great importance to relations with Pakistan. He conveyed gratitude of the government and people of Afghanistan for Pakistan's consistent support to the endeavours of President Karzai for national reconciliation as well as for reconstruction of Afghanistan. -APP

BORDER SECURITY: Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to evolve joint strategy to reinforce security on their border and curb drug trafficking, adds dpa. Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat and Dr Zalmai Rasoul led the talks here against the backdrop of recent operations against Taliban and Al Qaeda fugitives on both sides of the border.