Islamabad: A delegation of Afghan Senators led by Mr. Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar called on the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister’s House today and emphasized the need of exchange of parliamentary delegations to further strengthen their brotherly relations between the people of the two countries.
The Prime Minister said that exchange visits of parliamentarians were essential to enhance bilateral relations and Pakistan had always made consistent and sincere efforts to improve relations with Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister reiterated that peace and security of Afghanistan was critical for the peace and security of Pakistan and so we had always supported President Karzai’s peace efforts and would continue to support an Afghan led and Afghan owned process of reconciliation which would not cause instability in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister recalled that Pakistan did extend full cooperation to the Afghan team that visited Islamabad with regard to the investigation of assassination of Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan was committed to complete the construction of Torkham Jalalabad Road. Pakistan is offering 2000 fully funded scholarships to the Afghan students and agreed to enhance the number of scholarships on the request of the leader of the Afghan delegation, the Prime Minister assured.
Earlier, Chairman Senate, Mr. Farooq H. Naik while addressing the members of the Afghan delegation, said that Pakistan attached much importance to its relations with Afghanistan because both the countries share common religion, culture, history and geographical proximity further reinforced their bonds, so important for the peace and stability of the region.
Leader of Afghan delegation Mr. Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar in his speech highlighted the commonalities between the people of the two countries spread over the centuries adding this had brought them together to strive for the common destiny of peace and prosperity.
He said that President Karzai himself came to Pakistan to attend the oath taking ceremony of President Zardari which amply manifested the importance the Afghan people attached to Pakistan.
The members of the delegation included Mr. Musa Arefi, Deputy Head of Mission, Senator Lutfullah Baba, Member, Senator Gul Ahmad Azimi, Member, Senator Darakhail Mangal, Member, Senator Arifullah Pashtoon, Member, Senator Hazrat Shah Nooristani, Member, Senator Mohammad Daud Ghaffari, Member, Senator Ehsanullah Bayat, Member, Senator Hidayatullah Ahmadzai, Member.
Engineer Shaukatullah, Minister for SAFRON, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmad, Senator-in-Waiting, Foreign Secretary, Secretary Senate and other officials were also present during the meeting.
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