NSA Moeed discusses mutual issues with Afghan leadership

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani delegation led by National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf visited Kabul on Saturday to hold discussion with the government of Afghanistan on matters of mutual interest.

Acting Minister for Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi received the high-level delegation at Hamid Karzai International Airport. Later Moeed Yusuf held meeting with Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi.

He also met with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi. Senior officials including Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq were also part of the delegation.

During the meetings, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest. The two sides also exchanged views on matters pertaining to bilateral trade relations and regional connectivity.

Afghanistan acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi assured the Pakistani delegation that Afghan soil would not be used against its neighbours including Pakistan.

A statement issued by the presidential palace in Kabul quoted Hanafi as saying: “The policy of the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] is clear that we will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against [our] neighbours and other countries.” “We also want similar action from others,” he added.

The assurance from the Taliban government in Kabul comes amid a spike in attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan after the group declined last month to extend a ceasefire with Islamabad.

Separately, Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan tweeted that NSA Moeed Yusuf called on Hanafi and discussed the strengthening of brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote trade, transit and connectivity.

In this regard, the statement by the presidential palace said Hanafi urged Pakistani business leaders and investors to invest in Afghanistan’s energy, mines and agriculture sectors. Hanafi said Afghanistan wanted good relations with Pakistan, based on mutual respect, and the promotion of trade and transit relations between the two countries.

For his part, NSA Yusuf emphasised that peace and stability could not be ensured without establishing economic relations and said the expansion of trade and transit ties were important for both countries. Both sides also discussed ways to ensure more facilities for Afghan passengers and patients at the Torkham and Spin Boldak gates, the statement further said.

The delegation led by NSA Yusuf visited Kabul for talks on bilateral matters of mutual interest, focusing on Pakistan’s efforts to avert a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country. Pakistan has also been facilitating assistance to Afghanistan through international organisations, particularly the UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The OIC foreign ministers’ special session in Islamabad and the decisions to establish an OIC Trust Fund as well as appoint a special envoy on Afghanistan to oversee humanitarian and economic engagement are reflective of efforts to support Afghanistan.