ISLAMABAD, June 11: Pakistan and Afghanistan have a deep rooted relationship based on shared history, culture, common faith and economic interdependence.

This was stated by Senator Mushahid Hussain, chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, while speaking at a dinner reception hosted in honour of an Afghan media delegation here at the Parliament House.

Pakistan wanted to further strengthen economic and trade ties with Afghanistan, he said, destinies of the two countries were inter twined.

He said trade between the two countries had been increasing and currently it was over $1.2 billion. Over 6,000 Pakistanis worked in Afghanistan.

Mr Hussain regretted that some elements have been working to create tension and misunderstanding between the two countries. He urged the media to play pro-active role to promote harmony and understanding between the two governments and dispel the misunderstandings.

A number of gas pipeline projects involving Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and other countries of the region would provide a chance to further promote friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said.

Senator Hussain said Pakistan wanted a strong stable, progress and prosperous Afghanistan because it was in the interest of both countries and the region as well.

He said instead of accusing each other raising baseless allegations, both Pakistan and Afghanistan should join hands against their common enemy of terrorism and extremism. Let’s avoid the blame game.

“We will continue our support for peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan to maintain regional stability,” he said and welcomed Afghanistan’s membership of SAARC.

He also invited a delegation of Afghan Senate to visit Pakistan. Pakistan has been playing a stabilising role in a region facing many challenges. It has been moving towards promoting mutually beneficial economic linkages across the region to create inter-dependencies.

Mohammad Daud of the Kabul Times, led the Afghan media delegation, which also included Abdul Mudaqiq of Ariana TV, Khalilullah of the daily Cheragh, Ms Asma Habin of BBC and Abdul Mukhtar Ghafarzoy of Shamshad TV.