KABUL: Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) met with Moeed Yusuf, National Security Advisor of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and his accompanying delegation the other day, according to Bakhtar News Agency (BNA) reported.
According to the agency, the meeting held at the Presidential Palace was attended by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry of the IEA and officials from the Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the Chamber of Industry. The two sides discussed the expansion of bilateral ties between the two countries including trade and transit and the implementation of
major regional projects.
The Deputy Prime Minister, welcoming the Pakistani delegation and said that Afghanistan and Pakistan are two neighboring and brother countries with long shared historical, religious and cultural relations. “We hope that these bilateral relations will always prosper in the atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood,” PM Hanafi said adding that we want good relations with all countries in the region including Pakistan to be
based on mutual respect with growing relations in trade and transit.
He expressed his gratitude to Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees and humanitarian aids putting particular emphasis on the implementation of major regional projects, especially of TAPI and CASA 1000 and Railways
projects. In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the policy of the IEA is that it will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against its neighbors as well as protecting it against others.
Meanwhile, Deputy PM Hanafi invited Pakistani businessmen and investors to invest in Afghanistan’s energy, mining and agriculture sectors. On the other hand, Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan stands by the people of Afghanistan and continues to support the country.
He added that peace and stability cannot be achieved without Deeping economic relations and it is important to expand trade and transit relations.
“The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is fully committed to the implementation of major regional projects,” he said adding that a two-country private sector delegation should be established to talk about expanding relations in the fields of health, education, trade, mining and information technology. During the meeting, the
participants from both countries exchanged important views for improving trade and transit and
providing more facilities to Afghan traders, patients and travelers at the Torkham and Spin Boldak gates. According to another report, Yusuf and Mansoor Ahmad Khan Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, Acting Foreign Minister of the IEA.
The delegation would have multiple official meetings to strengthen humanitarian and economic engagement, the report added.
The Kabul Times
