ISLAMABAD: National As­sem­b­ly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan and stressed the need for constructive engagement between the two neighbours for the elimination of the common threat of terrorism.

Led by Mr Sadiq, a 15-member parliamentary delegation arrived in Kabul on Saturday on a two-day official visit. The delegation was received by Wolesi Jirga Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi and Afghan Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar.

Besides meeting their counterparts in Kabul, the Pakistani delegation comprising senior members of the National Assembly and the Senate will also meet the Afghan leadership to discuss resumption of dialogue to address the common issues between the two sides.

The parliamentarians include Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Akram Khan Durrani, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bazinjo, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Awais Ahmed Leghari, Naveed Qamar, Shafqat Mehmood, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Aftab Sherpao, Sahibzada Tariqullah and G.G. Jamal.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Sadiq said that the visit of such a high-level and widely representative delegation was unprecedented and indicated the utmost importance Pakistan attached to its bilateral relations with Afghanistan.

Mr Sadiq said that terrorism was the biggest threat to the progress and prosperity of the region.

He stressed the need for adopting a joint strategy to deal with the menaces of terrorism and extremism.

He also emphasised the need for promoting trade and enhancing people-to-people contacts.

He invited the chairman of the Mishrano Jirga, the upper house of the Afghan parliament, to visit Pakistan.

The speaker also expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the recent terrorist attacks at Sardar Dawood Khan Hospital and a military base in Mazar-i-Sharif.

He also wrote down his comments in the visitors’ book placed in the Afghan parliament.

The speaker of Wolesi Jirga and chairman of Mishrano Jirga acknowledged the efforts made by Pakistan for Afghanistan, particularly in hosting millions of refugees for more than three decades.

They stressed the need for the continuity of parliamentary exchan­ges for enhancing bilateral ties. Both sides agreed on the need of joint counterterrorism efforts.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2017