13 July 2004	Tuesday	24 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KABUL, July 12: Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here on Monday to address various issues of mutual interest.

The MoU was signed by Pakistan Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and his Afghan counterpart, Ali Ahmed Jalali, at the Afghan interior ministry during a two-day visit of a delegation of the Pakistan interior ministry.

Later, Mr Hayat called on President Hamid Karzai. Talking to reporters, the Afghan interior minister termed the signing of the accord a step forward to strengthen friendly ties and tackle problems confronting the two countries including international terrorism, extremist activities, drug control and smuggling, gunrunning, human trafficking, money laundering and other organized and international crimes.

He said that the two countries would shortly sign another MoU under which all Afghan refugees in Pakistan would take part in the presidential elections in Afghanistan scheduled to be held on Oct 9, this year.

Under the MoU all Afghan refugees in Pakistan would be declared a constituency of presidential elections in Afghanistan and they would cast votes. However, the method to be adopted for the polling is yet to be decided.

He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan were fighting against terrorism as they consider it as their common enemy. Replying to a query regarding release of Pakistani prisoners, the Afghan interior minister said about 750 Pakistanis were still in Afghan jails and they would be repatriated after their screening.

He dispelled an impression that Americans in Afghanistan were not allowing the government to send Pakistani prisoners back to their country. Mr Hayat said Pakistan was imparting training to senior Afghan police officials.

He said almost 1,200 Afghan police personnel would be trained. He said matters related to drug smuggling and poppy cultivation was also discussed in detail. According to the MoU both sides would share information about terrorism and international crimes and legislation on prevention of crimes.

The two countries would also cooperate in scientific research and technology exchange, transfer of police technology material and equipments. Under the MoU, both countries would strengthen cooperation between Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB), Pakistan, and Interpol NCB, Afghanistan.