ISLAMABAD: Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz paid a day-long visit to Kabul on Sunday as the prime minister’s special envoy and delivered Nawaz Sharif’s formal invitation to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai to visit Pakistan.

President Ghani appreciated the invitation and said he would visit Pakistan in near future, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office’s spokesperson.

Mr Ghani underlined that there was a historic opportunity to transform Pakistan-Afghanistan relations into a warm and mutually-beneficial partnership.

The president said he would like to share with Prime Minister Sharif his vision of bilateral relationship over a five-year perspective.

He identified the preparatory work that needed to be undertaken by both sides on different dimensions of ties, including political, security and defence cooperation, economic and trade relations, business-to-business contacts, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr Aziz conveyed felicitations on peaceful transfer of power and formation of a government of national unity in Afghanistan.

He underscored Prime Minister Sharif’s desire to build a comprehensive and enduring partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan marked by trust, understanding and close cooperation and his belief that the two countries had a historic opportunity to move in that direction.

He emphasised the importance of bilateral mechanisms for interaction at different levels in political, security and economic realms.

He said Pakistan would fully support and facilitate Afghanistan’s efforts for peace and stability. He also emphasised the importance of enhanced trade and economic relations as well as regional connectivity for trade and energy.

The adviser also called on Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and conveyed the prime minister’s cordial greetings and invitation to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient date.

Appreciating the invitation, Mr Abdullah said that both sides must work closely to realise opportunities to build a close and cooperative relationship.

Mr Aziz held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani and National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar.

During these meetings, discussions focused on preparatory work for President Ghani’s visit to Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2014