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Pakistan supports an Afghan-led and owned Peace Process

After landing on Thursday in Islamabad for a trilateral summit scheduled to be held on Friday between the Presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, President Hamid Karzai met with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

In a meeting held at the Prime Minister House, the two leaders discussed a range of issues of mutual concern and focused on diverse avenues of expanded bilateral cooperation particularly in the anti-terror war and enhanced trade and commerce.

Pakistan’s PM welcomed President Karzai and said stability in Afghanistan meant stability in Pakistan and that Pakistan respects President Karzai’s leadership.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan would continue to extend full cooperation to Afghan Government in the investigation of the assassination of Professor Buhanuddin Rabbani.

Prime Minister Gilani called for Afghanistan’s cooperation with Pakistan needed for the implementation of the TAPI gas pipeline project and vowed his country was prepared to do all it can in resolving the transit related issues.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan supported any pace process in Afghanistan which was Afghan led and Afghan owned and called for the resumption of operation by the joint peace commission between the two countries.

President Karzai hailed his trip to Pakistan as one of the most important ones in the past ten years and thanked Pakistan for the cooperation in the investigation of assassination of Professor Rabbani in which two suspects have been arrested. The President hoped that efforts continue so that all perpetrators of the crime are brought to table.

The President reaffirmed Afghanistan’s position in regards to peace talks with the armed opposition and said respect to the Afghan Constitution and women’s rights remain as crucial conditions for any talks.

President Karzai also asked Pakistan to allow entry to Afghanistan for the truck consignments of text books for Afghan schools that are stranded for months in Karachi port city.

Calling terrorism a common enemy that threatened people on both sides of the Durand Line, the President termed it imperative for both the countries to continue to maintain deep and sincere bilateral relations.

The Afghan delegation included Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, National Security Advisor Dr. Spanta, Chief of Staff to the President Abdul Karim Khurram and Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Muhammad Umar Daudzai.

The Pakistan delegation included Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.

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