ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Pakistan and Afghanistan said they had decided to reinforce cooperation to fight terrorism after Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri concluded a two-day visit to Kabul.
A joint statement issued overnight said Mr Kasuri and Afghan Foreign Minister Abdulllah Abdullah also discussed ways and means to broaden and deepen friendship and cooperation between their countries in all spheres to their mutual advantage.
“They observed that close and cordial ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan will contribute to global and regional peace, security and stability,” it said.
Mr Kasuri, who visited Kabul on August 21-22 as part of bi- annual consultations between the foreign ministers of the two countries and in the wake of recent tensions on their common border, also met former king Mohammad Zahir Shah, President Hamid Karzai and First Vice-President and Defence Minister Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim.
“The two sides reaffirmed their resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and decided to reinforce the existing cooperation bilaterally as well as within the framework of the tripartite commission (of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States) to address issues of concern and to eliminate the menace of terrorism,” the joint statement said.
It described terrorism as “a grave threat to internal security of both countries as well as peace and security in the region”. The statement said the two sides decided to augment economic interaction by liberalising trade and arrangements for Afghan transit trade through Pakistan. “For this purpose, in addition to existing facilities at Karachi and Bin Qasim port, facilities at Gwadar will also be made available.”
It was reaffirmed in the talks that Pakistani banks would open branches in Afghanistan as a means to enhance bilateral economic cooperation, and the Afghan side expressed willingness to expedite enacting banking laws to enable the operation of these banks, the statement said.
PAKISTANI PRISONERS: The statement said both sides agreed to expedite the process of transferring Pakistani prisoners held in Afghanistan to their country “for early screening”, which is done by Pakistani authorities before their eventual release.
It was also decided that cases of Afghans detained in Pakistan for violating Foreigners Act would be reviewed and “their release ordered as soon as possible”, it said.
The two sides decided to promote people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation, including sporting links, visit of parliamentarians from Pakistan, exchange of visits by journalists, businessmen and civic groups, the statement said.
The Afghan government accepted Pakistan’s offer for more scholarships to be given to Afghan students in Pakistani institutions.
Kabul appreciated Pakistan’s participation in Afghan reconstruction for which Islamabad disbursed $20 million last year in cash and project assistance from a total $100 million pledged grant, it said. A sum of $20 million would be disbursed in the current financial year for projects in education, health, infrastructure and commodity assistance and training facilities in various fields.
Mr Zahir Shah accepted an invitation from President Pervez Musharraf to pay a visit to Pakistan, which will take place at an appropriate time, the statement said. Mr Abdullah accepted Mr Kasuri’s invitation to visit Pakistan in February next year as part of bilateral consultation process.