PM Reaffirms Pakistan’s Strong Determination to Continue to Play Role for Peace in Afghanistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong determination to continue to play its role for peace and stability in Afghanistan, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.

Addressing Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Forum in Islamabad on Monday, he said peace in Afghanistan is important for promotion of trade and economic activities in the region which will bring prosperity and provide job opportunities to the people. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have been enjoying cordial relations since centuries and both countries share religious and cultural traditions. He said that peace in Afghanistan is inevitable for regional peace and prosperity.

Referring to the belligerent posture of Indian government against Pakistan and the Muslim population especially those in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has concerns that India could use the Afghan land to destabilize Pakistan. He, however, said our government has decided to strengthen relations with Afghanistan, no matter who is in power.

Imran Khan said the government is giving priority to uplift the business community and take the country towards industrialization for wealth creation. He said we are making efforts to enhance connections with the business community of Afghanistan in order to benefit from each other’s experiences and give impetus to the trade and economic relations.

He also said that the future of both countries [Pakistan and Afghanistan] is dependent upon their unity, mutual trade and enhanced economic interlinks. He stressed to facilitate Afghan trade and investors as both countries have vast potential of investment and economic activities which would bring regional prosperity and development. He remarked that both countries can be hub of trade and business due to CPEC.

He remarked that the Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process has been the chief concern of the incumbent government and no other country in the world can take credit equal to Pakistan in its efforts to maintain peace in Afghanistan. He lauded the efforts of Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser for bringing both countries together on the mutual interest of trade , investment and business as people to people contact are vital for regional progress and development. He appreciated the efforts of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser for organizing this successful seminar.

Qaisar, in his address, said that promotion of trade and economic links between Pakistan and Afghanistan would usher into new era of socio-economic development and would help bring people of the two sides more closer. He pointed out that establishment of Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group and its Task forces for encouraging people-to-people contact and facilitate bilateral and transit trade is a manifestation of our commitment to improving bilateral economic engagement with Afghanistan.

He proposed formation of a taskforce to oversee the terms of negotiation of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) that is going to expire in year 2021 needs input from parliamentarians and institutional stakeholders from both sides of borders for a comprehensive future trade agreement.

“The level of participation in this forum from both sides fills us with hope for the future of our relations,” Qasair said while expressing gratitude to the leader of Afghan delegation and other participants for attending seminar. He expressed the hope that seminar would go a long way boosting trade cooperation between Islamabad and Kabul and both sides would be able to build a long-lasting mutually beneficial relationship.

In his remarks on the occasion, Speaker of Afghan Wolesi Jirga Mir Rahman Rahmani said Afghanistan values the contributions of Pakistan to the Afghan peace process. He said the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan are deep rooted in common culture, faith and values. He stressed the need for enhancing parliamentary contacts between the two countries.