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Imran, Ghani vow to take steps for peace in region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday resolved to make efforts to benefit from their geographic location to enhance regional connectivity and realise their true economic potential for socio-economic development, alleviation of poverty and welfare of people.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani made a phone call to Prime Minister Imran Khan and the two leaders exchanged views on matters relating to peace, security and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region, a statement released by the PM Office said.
The two leaders vowed to strengthen bilateral ties and restore peace in Afghanistan and the region.
Read: PM Imran regrets upsurge in violence in Afghanistan, terms it counterproductive to peace
The two leaders discuss measures to reduce poverty
Prime Minister Khan said that for the sake of the people of the two countries, the aim of the leadership should be to help build peace, promote economic activities and advance connectivity for regional prosperity.
The prime minister said that the spirit of brotherhood defined Pakistan’s approach towards Afghanistan. “The prolonged Afghan conflict has damaged Afghanistan and adversely affected Pakistan over the past many decades,” he was quoted as saying.
PM Khan reiterated his vision for finding a peaceful solution to Afghan conflict, fully owned and led by Afghans themselves. He assured President Ghani that Pakistan would spare no effort to advance the common objectives of building peace in Afghanistan and having a fruitful bilateral relationship between the two brotherly countries.
Prime Minister Khan reiterated his invitation to President Ghani to visit Pakistan for a comprehensive exchange of views on all issues of mutual interest. Dates for the visit would be decided though mutual consultations.
The latest interaction between PM Khan and President Ghani came four days after a terrorist attack from Afghanistan side that claimed lives of three Pakistani soldiers who were erecting fence on the border.
Seven other Pakistani soldiers were injured when a group of 60 to 70 terrorists from bases in Afghanistan attacked Pakistan Army troops in the Alwara area of North Waziristan tribal district on May 1.
Pakistani troops effectively responded and repulsed the attack, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.
Islamabad believes that while Pakistan security forces are solidifying border security through fencing and construction of forts to deny liberty of action to terrorists, Afghan security forces and authorities need to have more effective control in the border region to support Pakistan’s efforts and deny use of Afghan soil against Pakistan.
Pakistan has been erecting a fence along its western border to stop illegal influx of terrorists and smugglers from Afghanistan who often use unfrequented routes to enter Pakistan. However, the government in Kabul has been opposing the move.
Read: Work on 900km Pak-Afghan border fence completed: army
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, so far, fencing over a distance of 1,000km along the borders with Afghanistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has been completed and work on the rest is under way. A total of 823 border forts have been planned, out of which 300 have been constructed so far. Work on the remaining posts is under way and will be completed soon.
Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2019
Comments (48) Closed
Always give peace a chance, before too late for human kind
One of them is lying. Who is that ?
Ghani , take India out of the equation. It's mudding the waters since India is only aligned with Afghanistan for creating trouble for Pakistan.
When comes to afghani leaders ,pak needs to be very proactive ,because the international level of afghani gov't is pro India ! So, only work in common interest for peace. But never closed eyes to them ,or relax!
IK should have told Ghani to control his border.
Welcome development-hope it is helped along by all stake-holders as it indeed can benefit the whole region and its hapless suffering people.
there is no such thing as brotherhood as long as Afghans bow own to Indians!
Ghani has no control over kabul forget whole Afghanistan nation. Imran Khan knows that but as rule Imran Khan has to talk with this useless person with no power.
Ghani is mayor of half of Kabul.
Now he is talking..stop terrorists attacks from Afghanistan. And take back Afghan refugees.
Khan must know who runs his country.
If each country minds it's own business, there will be peace.
Good news.
We dont trust Afghan President Ghani
IK should try his best to use his influence and get Indians out of Afghanistan. Peace will prevail naturally. Indian presence in Afghanistan is a curse in the region.
Main problem is Ghani himself ! Can’t be trusted ! Indian stooge !!!
Mark my words... this dude Ghani will say something totally opposite tomorrow.
Taking Afghani back be one of the Agenda of this meeting.
Afgans should never be trusted. They are always backstabbers in history
You can never rust the Afghans, never ever.
The Afghanistan president has no base to govern the country in turmoil due to foreign occuptational forces.
What's new. everyone wants peace and they all say the same. What about actions ??
The fence when completed will allow security and a manageable border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Undoubtedly, peace efforts from both sides will bring financial stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and Pakistan and, will help to create import/export and job opportunities through different means. This will obviously be setback for India and other countries who are against peace in the region. (Awam ki Awaz).
Never trust the stooge.
IK is aware that his words are heard by a deaf.
@MAkram, whom do you trust , Taliban? Good luck
@Md, yes, then Taliban have right? Is it good for the region?
It's so pathetic that many here comments like kicking refugees back to Afghanistan, are themselves sitting in USA canada and EU.
Afghans should listen to PMIK and act as such
@Prateik, It is for you (India) also.
What other options do they have except peace and tranquility in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at this crucial juncture in time and history?
@Kharkhowa Kalita,
Reason we don't trust Afghan because they are speaking Indian mouth. No thanks.
Great....two leaders must work hard for peace......it is the only way to prosperity.....
@Ahmed, :Ghani knows whom to trust and whom not.
@Ahmed, one just not have to be negative all the time. InshaAllah they will succeed.
So many vows...
@Javed Abid, :You talk as if you are USA.
You can never trust the Afghans, never ever.
Due to the USA's deliberate geopolitical mess in Afghanistan and in the region, at present, the chances of peace and security in this country are highly remote.
@Tamanna, its othwise as well
They keep vowing and vowing but do not have time to really do any thing.
Sorry, sounds like a broken record. We have heard this slogan for the past 30 years but still we’ll keep the hopes high
One wants to push the peace process forward, others, like Ghani and Modi only want to complain and point fingers, that’s not how it works, that’s not how we will promote peace in the region.
Ghani is just desperate to find his way in the peace dialogue between Taliban and US through Pakistan.
@Haroon, and seal the border
Thats what true leadership is all about, working toward to improve the life of many not few.
@Coldwar, Just like the U-turn PM.