PESHAWAR: A delegation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government, led by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, called on Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani at the presidential Palace in Kabul on Wednesday.

The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, particularly in the backdrop of security issues caused by the war against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan, said an official statement issued here on Wednesday.

They put emphasis on restoration of peace in both the countries and strengthening bilateral relations.

The members of the delegation included Provincial Minister for Minerals Ziaullah Afridi, Adviser to Chief Minister Amjad Afridi, Special Assistants to Chief Minister Ishtiaq Urmar, Abdul Munim Khan, Senator Mohsin Aziz, PML-N leader Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fawad Ishaq and several high ranking officers and representatives of the media.

During the meeting, Mr Khattak informed the Afghan president about the negative impacts that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province was facing owing to prolonged Afghan war. He stressed the need for promoting and strengthening trust worthy bilateral relations between the two countries on sustainable footings especially in the fields of trade, culture and refugees affairs.

The chief minister also highlighted the vision of PTI chief Imran Khan for bringing change and measures taken by the provincial government for introducing reforms. He said that the provincial government was planning to bring its trade relations with Afghanistan in the sphere of reforms to regularise and strengthen the trade relations.

On this occasion, Mr Ghani reiterated his stance for strengthening brotherly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He welcomed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delegation, saying they were not strangers in Kabul as people of both the countries had similar cultural and social norms.  

Earlier, Mr Khattak also met former Afghan president Hamid Karzai at his residence in Kabul and discussed with him several matters of mutual interest.

He said that cordial relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan would help establish durable peace as well as trade cultural and social relations between the people of Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On this occasion, Mr Karzai briefed the delegation about his efforts for return of peace in the region.

Meanwhile, the delegation also met Speaker of Afghan Parliament Ibrahimi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Syed Rabbani, Minister for Rehabilitation and Refugees Syed Mohammad Alam Balkhi, Minister for Commerce Muzamil Shinwari and representatives of Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The delegation discussed with them various prospects for promoting the provincial level relations with Afghanistan in collaboration with the federal government of Pakistan in the refugees and security affairs, trade ties and parliamentary contacts.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2015

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