PM Nawaz, Afghan President Ghani discuss counter terrorism operations

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed ongoing counter terrorism operations in the region.

According to sources, the two also reviewed Pak-Afghan ties and matters of mutual interest.

On February 21, President Ghani saluted Pakistan´s cooperation as Kabul seeks to lay the groundwork for peace with Taliban insurgents, the latest sign of improving ties between the two nations.

Afghanistan "appreciates Pakistan´s recent efforts in paving the ground for peace and reconciliation", Ghani said in a statement. "We welcome the recent position Pakistan has taken in pronouncing Afghanistan’s enemy as Pakistan’s."

He cited two major recent attacks as helping to bring the countries closer together -- one in Yahya Khel in Afghanistan in November that left nearly 50 people dead, and a Taliban massacre at a school in the Pakistan city of Peshawar in December that killed 153, mostly children.