| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Islamabad rendezvous: Nawaz, Ghani vow to bury the past |
| 2014-11-16 |
| [TRIBUNE.PK] Looking to overcome years of mistrust and acrimony between their countries, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani vowed on Saturday to jointly tackle terrorism and begin a new era of economic cooperation. The two neighbours have long endured testy relations fraught by a sporadic trade of accusations of harbouring each otherâs enemies. Their relationship had touched the lowest ebb towards the fag end of the long rule of the previous Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai. But less than two months after taking over the reins from his predecessor, Ghani is paying his first state visit to Pakistan, and the warm words used by himself and Nawaz at a joint news conference suggested both sides were making a conscious effort to reset relations. âWe have overcome obstacles of 13 years in three days,â said Ghani. âWe will not permit the past to destroy the future.â Premier Nawaz called Ghani a âdear brotherâ and said the two nations had signed agreements to improve train and road links, increase trade and explore defence, border and energy cooperation. âOur two countries face formidable challenges, including extremism and terrorism, a precarious security environment and trans-national crimes. âI am convinced that we can effectively meet them, through common resolve and common endeavours,â Nawaz said, adding that he and Ghani had had in-depth consultations on all these issues. The prime minister said a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan was in Pakistanâs vital national interest. âI also reaffirm Pakistanâs support for an intra-Afghan reconciliation process that the new government is initiating. This process, we agreed, must be fully Afghan led and Afghan ownedâ. Nawaz Sharif said he has been consistently emphasising Pakistanâs foremost priority of building a âpeaceful neighbourhoodâ. As its fundamental element, he said, he had vision of a strong, comprehensive and enduring partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan contributing to the security and prosperity of the two nations, and reinforcing efforts for peace and development in the region. âAnd I appreciate the fact that President Ghani has also a similar vision,â he added. Nawaz said both sides had recognised the historic opportunity to work together and build a stronger relationship â based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and marked by mutual trust, understanding and close cooperation. |
| Posted by:Fred |