ADDU, Maldives: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday agreed to further cooperate with each other to ensure peace, security and stability in the region.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani held an hour long meeting with Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai here on the sidelines of 17th SAARC summit and discussed bilateral relations, situation in the region and SAARC affairs.

Talking to newsmen along with Mr Karzai, the prime minister said the democratic government in Pakistan had made unprecedented efforts to improve its relations with Afghanistan since 2008.

He said that Pakistan was prepared to work in a cooperative mode with Afghanistan and other international partners to promote the shared objectives of stability and peace in Afghanistan.

Mr Gilani termed the assassination of former president of Afghanistan Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani as a set back to the peace and reconciliation process, adding that Pakistan will extend full cooperation to the recently constituted joint investigation commission to probe the murder of Rabbani.

He said Rabbani was a sincere friend of Pakistan and his death was a great loss to Pakistan.

The prime minister said, “We need to sincerely commit not to allow our respective national territories to be used for activities detrimental to each others interests.”

The challenges have to be addressed through concerted efforts, he added.

The premier emphasised that reconciliation and reintegration in Afghanistan have to be entirely Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and part of a domestic political process and assured full support of Pakistan for this process.

He said Pakistan had joined the Joint Peace and Reconciliation Commission on the request of Afghanistan and was still ready to facilitate the process, if requested by Afghanistan.

He appreciated the out come of the trilateral meeting held in Istanbul on Afghanistan and hoped that it would be helpful in resolving the Afghan issue through peaceful means.

Mr Gilani said Pakistan and Afghanistan should work jointly for enhancing rail and road connectivity.

Involvement of private sectors in development programs and joint ventures is imperative, he added.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai while replying to a question said strategical agreement between Afghanistan and India was not against Pakistan or any other country in the region.

He said it will help to promote education and development in Afghanistan.

Mr Karzai said, “We fully understand that instability in Pakistan can not be source of stability in Afghanistan and vice varsa.”

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Communication Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babur Ghauri and other officials of Foreign Office also attended the meeting from Pakistan side.