Pak-Afghan agrees to make joint efforts for progress, prosperity of masses

KABUL: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to make joint efforts for the progress and prosperity of the masses of the both countries.

Addressing a joint press conference after holding one on one meeting at Presidential Palace Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai showed their resolve and commitment to make all out efforts for rooting out of menace of terrorism from the two countries.

Prime Minister Gilani said that without the support of Pakistan terrorism from the world could not be eliminated.

He said that Pakistani people and armed forces have rendered great sacrifices in the war against terrorists.

He ensured every possible support for the progress and prosperity of the Afghan people, adding that Pakistan has suffered great losses including economic and lives of its solders in war on terror.

Answering the questions of journalists’ President Hamid Karzai said that both countries should have to decrease trust-deficit, which is present between the two countries.

He said that during the meeting with Prime Minister Gilani we have talked about the terrorisms and other issues facing by the two countries.

He thanked the Pakistani nation for the hospitality, which it rendered in the service of Afghan refugees; meanwhile the Afghan president thanked the Pakistani prime minister for visiting Afghanistan.

He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are tow nonbearing countries and neighbours could not be changed, adding that both the countries are enjoying cordial relations and these relations would be strengthen further in upcoming days.

He said that the support of Pakistan for brining peace in Afghanistan is very essential, adding that development work is in progress on many developmental project in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Gilani talking to Burhanuddin Rabbani, Leader of Afghan Peace Council, who called on him at the Presidential Palace on Saturday

said that the initiatives taken by the present government to improve relations with Afghanistan have greatly succeeded in bringing the two countries closer.

The Transit Trade Agreement signed recently, he said, will serve as the basis to give a new boost to trade relations and help build up the economies of both the countries.

The Prime Minister said that both the countries have enormous resources and these can be utilized for the benefit of the people of two countries. He stressed upon the need to develop common strategies both to enhance economic ties and also to tackle the problem of terrorism affecting the economies of the two countries.

Similarly the trilateral trade and economic relations between China, Pakistan and Afghanistan could also help to add a new chapter to the economic wellbeing of the entire region.

The Prime Minister an official invitation to the Mr. Burhanuddin Rabbani to visit Pakistan and meet the political leadership.

Burhannuddin Rabbani said that high level visits greatly help to improve the relations as people look towards their leaders. He mentioned that President Karzai agreed with him in a recent meeting that the future of Afghanistan lies in closer relations with Pakistan.

He rejected the perception that there is lack of trust between the two countries. We had different approaches but there is no lack of trust, he said. The two countries, he said, have the choice both to develop close links in the interest of peace and better future of the people of two countries.

Mr. Burhanuddin Rabbani called upon starting the Peace Jirga again as it would help to people to come together. The objective of the High Peace Council which he is heading is precisely to develop close political bilateral and economic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan