Pakistan will play its role to end violence in Afghanistan, says PM Imran Khan in Kabul visit

KABUL: Pakistan will play its role to end violence in Afghanistan and establishment of peace in the country, Prime Minister Imran khan assured Afgan President Ashraf Ghani during his maiden visit to Kabul on Thursday.

“The whole idea of coming to Afghanistan is to assure you that people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan have just one concern. Peace in Afghanistan, PM Imran said while addressing the media alongside Ashraf Ghani.

"Unfortunately the violence has increased in Afghanistan," he noted with concern.

Recalling Islamabad's efforts in bringing the warring sides to the negotiating table, the prime minister said Pakistan played a positive role in the peace process adding that through economic activities people of both the countries will be benefitted.

"I am pleased that you have invited me to this historic city of Kabul," the PM said, thanking President Ghani. "We have historical links with your country."

President Ashraf Ghani also stressed that the people of Afghanistan want nothing but peace.

"A comprehensive political settlement for enduring peace within the framework of our values and constitution in the Islamic Republic [of Afghanistan] is the way to the future," he said. "All of us need to understand that resorting to violence is not the answer."

President Ghani also said that he would be honoured to visit the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Afghan peace process tops agenda

Prior to the press conference, the two leaders held a meeting in which they discussed ways to further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity," said the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.

The two sides discussed the prospects of resumption of peace in Afghanistan following the Doha peace agreement inked between the United States and Taliban.

President Ghani and PM Imran Khan also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations as the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan were linked through immutable bonds of history, faith, culture, kinship, values and traditions.

The prime minister expressed confidence that his visit would help foster a stronger and multi-faceted relationship between the two brotherly countries.

Earlier, PM Imran was accorded a warm welcome upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace on his first official visit to the neighbouring country.

The premier has travelled to Afghanistan on Ghani's invitation.

The move has been seen as an effort to build on sustained engagement between the two countries in recent months for enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

The last time PM Imran and Ghani had met in person was when the latter visited Pakistan in June 2019. Before that, they had met on the sidelines of the 14th OIC Summit in Makkah, Saudi Arabia in May 2019.

The two leaders had a telephonic conversation in September 2020.