Kabul (Web Desk): Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relations and agreed on the importance of maintaining high-level engagement.
This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar while addressing a news conference in Kabul on Saturday.
He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have adopted a resolute consensus, not to allow the use of their soils for any wrongful activity against each other and to take strictest action in this regard.
About the major decisions taken during his day-long visit to Kabul, Ishaq Dar said it has been decided that a track and trace system will be operationalized from 30th June this year to accelerate cross border trade between the two countries.
He said it has also been agreed to hold regular trade exhibitions and exchange of trade delegations to continue the momentum of trade facilitation for the mutual benefit of two countries.
DPM Dar said it has been agreed that A plus plus category insurance guarantees will be accepted by Pakistani authorities for Afghan transit goods.
He said cross stuffing facility for will be provided to 500 containers per month initially from June 30 this year as pilot project to help lower the cost of transit trade.
The foreign minister said the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) system in Torkham will also be operationalized by June 30 this year.
About the repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Ishaq Dar said the government is ensuring that the process takes place with full dignity and honour without disrespect to any individual.
Expressing pleasure over the hospitality extended to him during his visit, Ishaq Dar extended invitation to Afghan Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan as his second home.
He said these regular exchanges are inevitable for keeping up the positive pace of bilateral relations.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who had earlier arrived in Afghan Capital Kabul on day-long official visit to Afghanistan at the invitation of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, engaged in extensive discussions with Afghan leadership.
According to a statement by the Foreign Office (FO), the delegation comprises Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq Khan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries for commerce, railways and interior, as well as other senior officials.
During his visit, Dar called on Afghan interim Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi and held in-depth talks with Acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi.
Security, trade, transit cooperation, and broader bilateral ties were discussed in the meeting, with both sides agreeing to hold high-level talks to advance mutual interests.
The Two sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade, transit and economic cooperation, to the mutual benefit of the people of both countries.
They further agreed to remain engaged to achieve the full potential of regional economic development, including through realization of trans-regional connectivity projects.
“The discussions encompassed a comprehensive range of topics pertaining to bilateral relations, underscoring the need to devise strategies for enhancing cooperation across diverse areas of mutual interest, including security, trade, transit, connectivity, and people to people contacts,” the FO spokesperson said.
The deputy prime minister emphasised the paramount importance of addressing all pertinent issues, particularly those related to security and border management, in order to fully realise the potential for regional trade and connectivity.
Speaking to reporters at Noor Khan Airbase early Friday morning, Dar struck a tone of cautious optimism as he addressed the current state and future potential of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
“Afghanistan is a neighbouring Muslim country and Pakistan has longstanding and historic ties with it,” he said, adding that the two countries relationship has been like that of two brothers, as they are joined together — and it should remain like this.
Dar acknowledged that relations between the two neighbours have cooled in recent years, largely due to Pakistan's mounting security concerns.
“There has been some coldness in the ties recently, primarily due to the security of Pakistan, the safety of our people’s lives and property and the most important concern for Pakistan — terrorism,” he said, referencing Islamabad’s frustrations with cross-border militancy and security threats emanating from Afghan soil.
Despite these challenges, the deputy prime minister underscored the vast economic and trade opportunities that exist between the two nations. He pointed to the potential for regional connectivity, particularly through Afghanistan’s geographic link to Central Asia.
“There are countless trade and economic opportunities between the two countries. We can connect to the Central Asian countries via railway from Afghanistan,” Dar noted, while emphasising that the idea cannot be realised unless there is a proper department of railways in Afghanistan.
The deputy premier expressed regret that the full potential of bilateral economic ties remains untapped and called for increased cooperation in order to unlock shared prosperity.
“I’m going with goodwill, and I will try to bring these two Muslim countries closer together. We must do whatever is possible for the economic progress and betterment of our people through mutual cooperation,” he said.
The visit comes at a critical time, as both nations face internal and external pressures that make regional cooperation more important than ever.
