ISLAMABAD, April 23: Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Wednesday to hold biannual consultations in Islamabad and Kabul alternatively.

This was decided at meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and his Afghan counterpart Dr Abdullah Abdullah held at the foreign office.

During their hour-long meeting, the two officials agreed that the consultations would provide a forum for regular exchange of views on bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest and regional issues, said a statement issued by the foreign office.

“The two foreign ministers agreed that the political consultations will also provide a forum to monitor overall progress in the promotion of bilateral co-operation and take follow-up action for smooth conduct of bilateral relations and removal of irritants, if any, between the two countries,” the statement said.

The two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved as a result of the meetings of President Hamid Karzai with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali, it added.

BROAD UNDERSTANDING: “A broad understanding is there. This is not something new, but this two-day visit and yesterday’s meetings strengthened that resolve,” Afghan foreign minister told reporters after the meeting, adds AFP.