PESHAWAR: Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday called for removal of mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan and stressed the need for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism in the entire region.

The seminar was organised by Pak-Afghan People’s Forum at Peshawar Press Club. Retired justice Khalid Mehmood was chief guest on the occasion while Afghan Consul General in Peshawar Dr Abdul Waheed Poyan, members of civil society organisations, lawyers, politicians and people from different walk of life attended the seminar.

Prominent among the speakers were Alamzeb Khan, Liaquat Seemab, Ghani Gul Mehsud, Nisar Mohammad Khan, Toor Gul Chamkani, Noorul Amin Yousufzai, Khalid Mehmood and Advocate Ijaz Mohmand.

Speaking on the occasion, the Afghan envoy said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan should make direct contacts to resolve issues and defuse tension between them.

Afghan envoy says both countries should make direct contacts to defuse tension

He said that his country wanted better and cordial relations with neigbhouring countries, particularly Pakistan.

However, he said that it was essential to remove mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan without any delay.

Mr Poyan said that foreign forces imposed war on both the Islamic countries (Pakistan and Afghanistan) that created hatred and mistrust among people of neighbouring states.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan are capable to sort out all outstanding issues in a befitting manner,” the Afghan diplomat said and added that better and cordial relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan were vital for sustainable peace and stability in the entire region.

“Afghan government is promoting better relations with all stakeholders in its country and Islamabad and desires restoration of peace in the region,” he said.

The Afghan diplomat said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were tied with strong relations due their common languages, religion, traditions and culture. He said that tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan had affected trade, commerce and other relations between both the countries.

Other speakers also stressed the need for establishing better relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They said that joint efforts were must for bringing sustainable peace and development to the region and coping with common challenges.

The speakers said that relations between the people Pakistan and Afghanistan were essential for future of the entire region to restore peace in the region. They said that it was duty of the leadership of both the countries to play effective role in improving diplomatic ties between both the countries.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2016