*ISLAMABAD: *Pakistan and Afghanistan are all set to make a fresh startaimed at resetting their troubled relations marred by years of mistrust andblame game, officials said ahead of a crucial visit by Afghan PresidentAshraf Ghani.
Ghani is undertaking his first visit to Islamabad in three-and-a-half yearsas part of a renewed push by the two estranged neighbours to open a newchapter in their tense ties.
Ghani is scheduled to begin his two-day visit to Islamabad on June 27 atthe invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, diplomatic sources confirmedto The Express Tribune.
The visit is taking place after behind-the-scene efforts by the two sides –particularly by Pakistan – to iron out differences on a number of issues.
Relations between the two neighbours remained tense for over two yearsmainly because of trust deficit.
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Afghanistan has often held Pakistan responsible for the continued unrest inthe country while Islamabad has also its own list of grievances such asKabul’s lack of action against groups launching cross-border attacks.
The deepening trust deficit has not only undermined efforts at improvingbilateral ties, but also hampered diplomatic manoeuvres to seek a politicalsolution to the lingering war in Afghanistan.
