ISLAMABAD – Pakistan-Afghanistan Track-II dialogue were held in Islamabad.A joint declaration adopted after discussions on key issues called for theeffective operationalisation of the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan forPeace and Solidarity (APAPPS) to address all key issues, Daily Times hasreported.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbas and Afghan President Ghani hadagreed on the seven principles of APAPPS in Kabul on April 6 this year,which provides institutionalised framework for bilateral engagement throughfive working groups -politico-diplomatic, economy and trade, refugeerepatriation, military to military and intelligence to intelligence workinggroups.
Afghan leaders’ statements about Pakistan after the Taliban stormed Ghaznicity last month were viewed as unhelpful in Pakistan; however, both sidesvowed efforts to avoid any mistrust.
Daily Times learnt that Pakistan also suggested a meeting of the APAPPSworking committee to be held in Islamabad. The visit of Foreign MinisterShah Mehmood Qureshi is also planned this month.
The Track 1.5/11 dialogue ‘Beyond Boundaries’ organised by the Centre forResearch and Security Studies (CRSS) also underlined the need to focus onthe humanitarian dimension of the bilateral relationship to end violencefor a dignified return of refugees and honourable treatment to each other.
The participants urged the governments in Islamabad and Kabul to overcomethe barriers impeding trade to increase exchanges related to economic andtrade cooperation and recognise that there had been a positive increase inbilateral trade.
On the issue of Afghan refugees, the delegates recommended that APAPPS as aplatform should be used to facilitate repatriation of refugees.
The participants also called for the creation of a group represented by twopersons each from the Afghan media and the Pakistani media using BeyondBoundaries as a platform to improve media interaction with the objective ofcreating a positive perception of bilateral relations.
The participants announced support to the parliamentary elections to beheld in Afghanistan in October this year. “We recommend that Pakistanimedia channels should be issued visas to travel to Afghanistan for coverageof Afghan parliamentary elections in October 2018,” the declaration said.
The delegates also recommended that Dari and Pashto dramas be dubbed inUrdu and aired in Pakistan and vice versa.
During discussions, Pakistani participants said that the new civiliangovernment and the military in Pakistan were on the same page, which wouldbode well for bilateral relationship and Afghan peace process.
They argued that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s victory speech on July 26highlighted the new government’s vision for strengthened Pak-Afghanrelations; showing the renewed importance the premier gives to Afghanistan.
Speaking at the opening session, Afghan Deputy Head of Mission ZardashtShams expressed hope that Pakistan would extend help to reduce violence inAfghanistan. He said that surge in Taliban violence could have negativeimpact on bilateral dialogue.
Director General Afghan desk at Foreign Office Dr Aejaz assured thedelegates that Pakistan had no favourite in Afghanistan and supportedPresident Ashraf Ghani’s peace offer to the Taliban.