Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The members of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee met Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt Gen (r) Nasser Janjua separately on Thursday.

Both the Pakistani officials underlined Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and its resolve to not let its soil be used against another country. Aziz said he was convinced that peace in Afghanistan was critical to peace in Pakistan. “Pakistan is facing a very serious situation and has suffered immensly at the hands of terrorism. Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to and finalized a coordination mechanism to combat terrorism and fight the common enemy. Trust cannot be restored unless there is a bilateral interaction between the two countries. He said that the multilateral occasions are a great opportunity to break the ice and reduce tensions between the two countries. Pakistan has achieved success in counter-terrorism more than any other country and its efforts must be acknowledged. Pakistan is making an all out effort against terrorism and to make sure that its land is not used against any other country. The track 2 initiatives have proven useful in difficult situations; especially when the relations at the official level are not good,” he told the visitors.

Separately, Janjua said, “Afghanistan is a brotherly country. We are just passing through some unfortunate and difficult time, and have become the children of circumstances. Pakistan and Afghanistan belong to each other and have a common fate and future, but it’s very unfortunate that we have started to misunderstand each other. Both countries should need to redefine and re-carve the future which is brighter than yesterday.” “Peace and stability of Afghanistan is crucial for both countries, I have no doubt that if Afghanistan is not peaceful, Pakistan cannot be peaceful and vice versa. Both countries can have a connected future through trade corridor.”

He added that the situation was becoming even worse where different enemies were growing, but the solution lied in sitting together for dialogue.

“The biggest reason why Pakistan is facing terrorism is that it is not letting the terrorists use its soil against another country. We should invest in winning peace rather than war. The reconciliation is the key to address the Afghanistan issue and for the regional peace.”

The Afghan delegates said that they wanted a peaceful Afghanistan as it had impact on both sides.

“The border closure hurts both Pakistan and Afghanistan. It negatively affects both countries and can escalate tensions. The discussions about the fate of Afghanistan should be inclusive.” They also said that Pakistan can play a vital role for solution to the Afghan problem. They also thanked Pakistan for showing exceptional hospitality in hosting the Afghan refugees.

“Both countries should start from common grounds and take small but meaningful steps forward,” they stressed.

The meeting was part of Beyond Boundaries II, a track I.5/II dialogue series undertaken by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in partnership with the Afghan counterpart Women Peace and Security Organisation (WPSO), to foster better understanding and cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.