KP CM discusses ‘regional peace’ with Afghan diplomat

PESHAWAR: Consul General of Afghanistan in Peshawar Hafiz Mohibullah Shaki on Thursday called on Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and both discussed regional peace, trade promotion and other issues.

“The meeting centred around regional peace, trade promotion, problems faced by the Afghan citizens living in KP and other issues,” said a handout issued here.

The chief minister said the people of KP and Afghanistan had several things in common. “The people on both sides of the border are bound with each other through religion, language and culture,” said Gandapur. He said people in both regions suffered because of the war on terror.

“The time has come to launch serious efforts for durable regional peace which is in the interest of both the countries,” he said to the Afghan diplomat.

“There was a great potential for trade and both the countries will greatly benefit from this,” he stressed. Gandapur also said there was a need to remove the hurdles to the trade activities at the Pak-Afghan border. He said a special desk was needed to be set up at the border to facilitate the Afghan traders. The chief minister suggested that the federal government should form a Jirga to hold negotiations with neighbouring Afghanistan for peace. The chief minister said the KP government was serious about resolving the issues of Afghan citizens legally staying in the province. “Steps will be taken to provide facilities to the Afghan students and those people from Afghanistan who were here for medical treatment,” he added.

The Afghan consul general said the people of KP had played host to the Afghan refugees for decades. “We are grateful to Pakistan, especially the people of KP for that,” he said, adding peace was a must for achieving development.

Meanwhile, talking to the members of business community at the Chief Minister’s House, Gandapur said trade with Afghanistan must be legalised, stating that closing trade was not the solution. The chief minister said most of the problems faced by the business community were linked to the federal government. “The entire nation is suffering from the consequences of flawed policies by the incumbent rulers at the Centre,” he added.