March, 24 2005	Thursday	13 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 23: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to start regular bus services between their border cities to further boost growing bilateral trade, economic and commercial links, officials said. The plan envisages one bus route between Peshawar and Jalalabad and another between Quetta and Kandahar.

Details about the implementation of the proposed bus links would be worked out later, officials said.

The two sides also signed an agreement to institute regular consultations between their foreign ministers as well as accords on enhancing cooperation in the fields of tourism, information and cultural exchanges.

The signing ceremony, held at the Prime Minister’s House here, was attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The two leaders earlier had a 30-minute meeting during which they discussed bilateral issue, regional situation, cooperation in the war against terrorism and measures to boost trade.

In a brief statement, Prime Minister Aziz said the two countries discussed the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project and the need of having an energy corridor through Afghanistan.

“We talked about a host of issues, including ways to re-energize the Economic Cooperation Organization and the role Afghanistan can play in the regional grouping,” he said.

Reiterating that Pakistan and Afghanistan had deep-rooted ties, Mr Aziz said: “The talks’ encompassed measures to further boost these ties through enhanced trade and economic cooperation.”

President Karzai said strong relations between the two countries would translate into stronger links among the people.

“The people-to-people contacts are moving ahead at a speed, hard even for the two governments to catch up with and will benefit the people of the two countries.”

“The people of the two countries are making the strides and we should do everything to facilitate these strides to the benefit of the two nations,” he said.

President Karzai was also appreciative of the very warm hospitality extended to him.

The protocol on regular consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs was signed by Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah.

Other agreements were signed by Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Culture Minister Ajmal Khan and Tourism Minister Ghazi Gulab Jamal and their Afghan counterparts.

President Karzai’s visit, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of Pakistan Resolution, is reflective of the close brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a foreign office statement said.—Agencies