PESHAWAR, Aug 24: A delegation of the Awami National Party called on the visiting Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, in Islamabad on Tuesday.

A press release issued here by Mian Iftikhar, provincial secretary information of the party, said that the two sides discussed the current situation in the context of the war against terrorism and observed that permanent peace in Afghanistan was vital to peace in the South and Central Asian regions.

Begum Nasim Wali, provincial chief of the ANP, led the delegation that also included Afrasyab Khattak, member of the party's central executive council. Afghan President Hamid Karzai was assisted by senior members of his delegation and Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan and its Peshawar- based counsellor.

According to the ANP's press release, Mr Karzai, speaking on the occasion, said that cordial relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan were vital to the interest of the people of the two sides.

He said that the economic cooperation between the two sides had strengthened during the last one year and as a result of that bilateral trade between the two countries had registered an annual growth of US $ 1 billion.

The press release claimed that the Afghan president appreciated ANP's political struggle and thanked it for raising voice in support of the people of Afghanistan and upholding the cause of restoring peace in the war torn country.

Talking to Mr Karzai, contained the release, Begum Nasim Wali said that the time had proven that peace and tranquillity in Afghanistan had always been vital to peacefulness in the whole of the region. She said that all countries of the region should jointly try to help Afghanistan in establishing peace for permanent basis.