March, 22 2005	Tuesday	11 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 21: Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s two-day visit to Pakistan, starting on Tuesday, will take relations between the two countries to a new level, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said here on Monday. Talking to Dawn,, Mr Kasuri said the visit would boost relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan to new highs and pointed out that Mr Karzai’s arrival coincided with the 65th anniversary of the Pakistan Resolution that spoke of the close brotherly relations between the two countries.

The foreign minister, who will meet the Afghan president during his stay here, said the two sides would discuss improvement in bilateral ties and take steps to further strengthen them. Mr Kasuri pointed out that just three years back trade volume between the two countries stood at $20 million, but today it had almost touched the $1 billion mark.

“Sky is the limit,” the foreign minister stated, pointing to the potential of growth in all aspects of bilateral relations. Afghanistan remained a high priority country for Pakistan, he emphasized.

President Karzai is scheduled to hold formal talks with President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday. President Musharraf visited Kabul in November last year soon after the results of the first presidential elections in Afghanistan were declared. Mr Karzai will meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday. He will be the guest of honour at the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23.

Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani announced at his weekly news briefing on Monday that during Mr Karzai’s visit Pakistan and Afghanistan would sign five protocol and bilateral agreements. President Karzai will be accompanied by ministers for foreign affairs, defence, commerce, transport, tribal areas, national security adviser, and senior officials.