Daily Times

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said Pakistan and Afghanistan have assured each other that they would not allow nefarious elements the use of their soil to conduct attacks or illicit activities against the other, adding that both countries would be responsible to take appropriate action in such a case.

Dar arrived in Kabul earlier in the day for a day-long visit to discuss security issues that could potentially lead to a thaw in relations between the two neighbours after protracted stalemate over Islamabad’s terrorism concerns.

The much-awaited visit follows the latest round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee meeting in Kabul. Pakistan’s delegation was led by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, the country’s special representative for Afghanistan.

The two sides agreed to continue dialogue for resolving bilateral issues in a positive environment amid the high-level talks in Kabul today. Addressing a press conference after talks with many Afghan officials, Dar said: “We have requested our hosts that we have to work together for the progress, betterment and peace and security of the region. For that, neither will we allow anyone to use our soil to conduct illicit activities in Afghanistan and graciously nor will you allow anyone to use [Afghan soil].

“We both countries will strictly deal with and no one will be permitted to – there is no permission either way – use our land to use against the other for any security [risk] or terrorism. If someone does, then we both will be responsible to take action against such elements in our countries and stop them.”

FM Dar thanked the Afghan side for hosting the Pakistan side in a splendid manner and said he had invited Afghan officials to visit Pakistan.

“As I consider here [Afghanistan] my second home, Pakistan is also their second home.”

He said the Afghan officials had promised him to visit Pakistan. Dar said problems between the neighbouring countries could be smoothly sorted out and prevented only when relations were maintained, diplomatic activities carried on and committees kept working regularly.

Dar said the transit track and trace system would be functional by June 30 and said it could benefit both sides by increasing the pace of flow for Afghanistan’s transit goods. He added that an agreement was reached on insurance related matters as well for trade.

The foreign minister said Pakistan had requested that trade delegations and exhibitions between the two countries also be facilitated since such activity was highly necessary to ramp up trade, prosperity and business between the neighbours.

Regarding the issue of refugees, he said four principled decisions were taken: their respectful return; mechanism to address the complaints of their mistreatment; announcement that Pakistan has issued no instructions not to buy property from Afghans and granting them the permission to take back their belongings.

According to a statement issued earlier by the Foreign Office (FO), Dar engaged in extensive discussions with acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The statement said, “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 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,” it added.

The FO further said, “Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relations and agreed on the importance of maintaining high-level engagement.”

Later, Dar called on the acting Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, the FO added in a separate statement.

Both sides exchanged views on key issues of mutual interest, including security, trade and transit cooperation, and explored ways to enhance people-to-people contacts.

Reaffirming the commitment to continued engagement, both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges to further strengthen the relations between the two brotherly countries.

Dar also met acting Afghan Deputy PM Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi for talks in which the two leaders discussed all issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, and people-to-people contacts.

They also agreed to enhance bilateral trade, transit and economic cooperation, to the mutual benefit of the people of both countries. They further decided to remain engaged to achieve the full potential of regional economic development, including through realisation of trans-regional connectivity projects.