Afghan president arrives in Pakistan for key security talks
Updated: 2014-11-14 13:30
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
ISLAMABAD - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Pakistan on Friday on a two-day official visit for important talks on key security issues and to expand economic ties, officials said.
The Afghan president will seek Pakistan's help in talks with the Taliban insurgents to avoid any instability in the post-NATO Afghanistan. Pakistan role is seen as very important in the peace process.
President Ghani is accompanied by a high level delegation of over 100 people, including senior leaders, cabinet members and businessmen. This is Ashraf Ghani's first visit to Pakistan after assuming presidency in September and his second foreign trip. He first visited China last month.
The Foreign Ministry said that discussions will be held on all dimensions of Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations during the visit "with a particular focus on bilateral political engagement."
Other issues on the agenda include trade and economic cooperation, border security, connectivity, energy and people-to- people contacts.
The Afghan president will hold official talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain. The Afghan president and prime minister will briefly speak at a joint press conference, officials said. The two leaders are likely to witness a Pakistan-Afghanistan cricket match in Islamabad.
"The visit comes at a historic juncture in Afghanistan, marked by the recent peaceful transfer of power and formation of the government of national unity. The recent developments in Afghanistan offer unique opportunity to transform the bilateral ties and to build a strong and forward looking relationship," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said ahead of the visit.
Economic relations are also on top of the agenda and Afghan Finance Minister Umer Zakhelwal was in Pakistan to explore ways to further boost bilateral trade.
Zakhelwal met his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday and both agreed to enhance bilateral trade from the current 2.5 billion dollars to 5 billion dollars in the next two to three years, the Finance Ministry said. The bilateral trade was only 500 million dollars in 2001.
Pakistan is providing transit facilities to the landlocked Afghanistan since 1960s under a transit agreement and the transit issues will also be discussed during the talks in the next two days. Afghanistan has long seeking Pakistan's cooperation for trade with India via its land routes. Pakistan currently allows Afghan trucks to drop India-bound trade goods at Wahga border.
- In Afghanistan, TV soaps send messages of hope
- China offers aid to Afghanistan
- Fruitful meeting on Afghanistan
- China pledges financial, training assistance to Afghanistan
- Chinese FM meets officials to attend intl conference on Afghanistan
- Int'l conference conducive to building consensus on Afghanistan: Chinese envoy
- Premier Li pledges to strengthen cooperation with India
- Lang Lang honored with German award
- Airshow China soars to success in Zhuhai
- The most people dine on the beds
- Dangling workers rescued from World Trade Center
- Long-term visas issued for China, US citizens
- Long-term visas issued for China, US citizens
- Culture Insider: Chic items in ancient China
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
China pushes for code at South China Sea |
Forbes sees Xi as world's third most powerful person |
Special: APEC China 2014 |
Reporting on the route to Tibet |
Young students seek a different class of education |
Foundations of financial folly |
Today's Top News
US spying scheme targets Americans' cellphones
The Waldorf's hefty price tag
China, US to build milk-powder plant in Kansas
China, ASEAN set goal for upgrading FTA
Country pushes for code at South China Sea
Beijing wants to keep 'APEC blue'
US, China reach landmark pacts
Youth urged to get politically involved
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |