RAWALPINDI – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Tuesdayreturned home after a day-long visit to Kabul, Afghanistan.
During the visit, the COAS had exclusive one-to-one meeting with AfghanPresident Ashraf Ghani followed by delegations level discussions. He alsohad meetings with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Commander ResoluteSupport Mission (RSM) General John Nicholson, an Inter-Services PublicRelations (ISPR) press release said.
The COAS congratulated Afghan authorities on recent peace initiatives,especially in respect of the holy month of Ramadan/Eid and wished thatthose steps gained more of permanence, ultimately leading towards anenduring peace.The discussions encompassed wide range of issues, especially the ongoingefforts for reconciliation in Afghanistan, measures needed to check rise ofISIS and the issue of terrorists taking benefit of the porous border toindulge in terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking, being often networkedtogether.
The COAS reiterated that it was the regions and not countries thatdeveloped, for which peace and development remained quintessential.He said that having attained relative peace and stability inside Pakistan,efforts were now focused towards socio-economic development as a routetowards enduring peace and stability.
The COAS said that recently agreed Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan forPeace and Stability (APAPPS) was expected to bring more cooperation andcoordination between the two countries. Referring to border fencing, COASsaid that it was an obstacle for checking terrorism and not between peopleof both sides.
The Afghan President thanked the COAS for his visit and recent securityinitiatives undertaken for peace and stability. The president sharedcontours of his vision about regional development, efforts to extendongoing temporary ceasefire and steps related to creating conditions forreconciliation.The Chief Executive also thanked the COAS for his visit and the APAPPSinitiative.
Both the sides agreed that while results of the bilateral initiatives wereextremely important, but even more important was the continuity of theprocesses to achieve the end state objectives.Talking to the Commander RSM, the COAS said that Pakistan desired that US/NATO forces must succeed and leave behind a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
Earlier, upon arrival at the presidential palace, the COAS was presentedguard of honour. Foreign Secretary, DG ISI, Pakistan’s Ambassador inAfghanistan and other senior officials accompanied the COAS, while AfghanNSA and senior ministers including NDS joined Afghan delegation.