ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will undertake a daylongvisit to Kabul tomorrow on the invitation of Afghan President MuhammadAshraf Ghani.

The Prime Minister’s visit is taking place in the backdrop of Pakistan’ssupport to President Ghani’s offer of peace talks with the Taliban forlasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and strengthening bilateralengagement.

The Prime Minister will have in-depth consultations with Afghan PresidentAshraf Ghani and Chief Executive, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on matters ofmutual interest, including strengthening bilateral political, economic,security and counter-terrorism cooperation, return of Afghan refugees,combating drug production and narco-trade, Afghan peace process andregional political and security situation.

The Prime Minister will also meet senior Afghan political leaders.

Pakistan will continue to support Afghanistan’s developments effortsthrough capacity building in infrastructure, educational and health sectorsin Afghanistan.

Pakistan also aspires to deepen people to people contacts. In this regard,the Prime Minister would discuss with the Afghan leadership ways tofacilitate travel between the two countries, assist education and medicaltreatment of Afghan nationals in Pakistan and expand trade and transitfacilitation between the two countries.

To promote regional economic integration, the two countries areparticipating in key trans-regional initiatives namelyTurkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and CentralAsia – South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000).

The Prime Minister recently joined Afghan President in Herat to inauguratethe TAPI gas pipeline project. The two sides are also engaged inundertaking major bilateral rail-road connectivity projects.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Afghanistan is aimed at strengthening thepositive momentum in bilateral relations and help augment joint endeavorsin the pursuit of durable peace, stability and economic prosperity in thetwo countries, and the region.