Pakistan, Afghanistan urged to work jointly for security

Foreign Minister Qureshi says trouble in one country affects the other, stresses united efforts for peace and security in region

A two-day conference titled ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan: Towards Mutual Security, Stability and Trade’ concluded on Saturday with a consensus that Pakistan and Afghanistan should leave the past behind and strive together for a secure and prosperous future of their peoples.

Participants of the conference, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), recommended enhancing cross-border economic opportunities, more interaction between the two civil societies, better border management, ratification of Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, liberalisation of visa regimes, more educational and cultural contacts and harmonising of tariffs to curb informal trade between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who inaugurated the conference, said the two countries had joined destinies and stressed united efforts towards establishing peace and security in the region. He said any ill afflicting Pakistan would have implications for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the troubles plaguing Afghan society would adversely affect Pakistan as well.

In his concluding remarks, Institute of Strategic Studies Chairman/Director General Tanvir Ahmad Khan said Pakistan’s civil and military leadership were absolutely committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Former ambassador Ross Masood Husain and Resident Representative of KAS Dr Babak Khatalbari also addressed the concluding session of the conference.

Earlier in the day, Sherry Rehman and an Afghan parliamentarian Sultanzai co-chaired the third session of the ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan: Prospects of Trade’. Afghan National Journalists Union President Abdul Hamid Mobarez talked about historical developments of economic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan during the meeting. He said the two nations were dependent on each other for peace and called on them to develop cooperative ties in order to overcome regional security threats.