ISLAMABAD: Top Afghan diplomat has for the first time sent positive signalsin re approachment with Pakistan.
Pakistan is not part of the problem but solution to the current challengesfacing by Afghanistan, said a top Afghan official on Tuesday.
Deputy Afghan Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, who was heading anAfghan delegation for a meeting of Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan forPeace and Solidarity (APAPPS), called on National Security Adviser Lt-Gen(retd) Nasser Khan Janjua.
The NSA warmly welcomed the delegates, and congratulated them and thePakistani team for finalising Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peaceand Solidarity (APAPPS). He expressed the hope that the agreement would beinstrumental in bringing both the sides closer.
The Afghan deputy foreign minister said Pakistan and Afghanistan sharedmany commonalities — including challenges and opportunities.
He also highlighted the fact that for sustainable peace in Afghanistan,both the countries need to work together. He added that Pakistan has a veryimportant role to play for regional peace and stability.
“Pakistan is not part of the problem but solution,” he remarked.
He also expressed the hope that after the formal finalisation of APAPPS,both the countries will be able to develop a mechanism of sustainablecooperation and will cover the gaps in the way of cordial bilateralrelations.
The security adviser said Pakistan and Afghanistan have every reason tocome close and cooperate with each other. Both the countries need toreverse the prevailing challenging situation collectively.
Both the countries have immense potential and should complement each otherto become a trade corridor by way of the regional connectivity.
“Prosperity is another name of security, we have great future but only weare delaying it,” he added.
Both sides reiterated that the economy should be separated from politics;“rather, economic cooperation should be given a chance to surpass politicalimpediments”.
They agreed to put more efforts to operationalise APAPPS; to take a freshstart; to bridge existing gaps; to build formal mechanism of cooperation inall areas of mutual interests; and to take collective actions to strengthentrust between the two countries.