On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had a meeting with Afghanistan’s Minister for Industry and Commerce Nisar Ahmed Faizi Ghoryani in Islamabad, where the premier expressed the need for a political settlement rather than a military solution in Afghanistan. “There is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan,” he said.
Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment was also present at the meeting.
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Afghan Minister for Industry and Commerce Calls on Prime Minister Imran Khan
Mr. Nisar Ahmed Faizi Ghoryani, Minister for Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today. pic.twitter.com/SNECUPGYuW
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 30, 2020
Imran Khan while highlighting Pakistan’s close fraternal ties with Afghanistan, reiterated Pakistan’s constant support for peace and stability in the war-torn country. The premier also stressed “the need for all sides to take measures for reduced of violence leading to a ceasefire,” revealed an official statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
Peace in Afghanistan would benefit the entire region as it will pave way for regional connectivity and new opportunities for economic cooperation, the premier added.
Read more: The politics behind ceasefire in Afghanistan
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for all sides to take measures for reduction of violence leading to ceasefire.
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 30, 2020
PM Imran Khan stated that Pakistan and Afghanistan have “untapped economic synergies and complementarities, which could be best realized through cooperation in the economic and trade sphere.”
The premier also mentioned the “Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar,” the Trans-Afghan railway line project. Uzbekistan’s efforts to finance the project were also highlighted by PM Khan. “In this regard, he mentioned that he had signed Joint Appeal Letter addressed to the Heads of various International Financial Institutions (IFIs) by Heads of State/Government of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.”
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In this regard, he mentioned that he had signed Joint Appeal Letter addressed to the Heads of various International Financial Institutions (IFIs) by Heads of State/Government of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 30, 2020
Greetings of Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani were conveyed to PM Imran Khan by the Afghan Commerce Minister, while also highlighting the progress made on matters pertaining to transit and bilateral trade.
The Afghan Commerce Minister appreciated Pakistan’s tireless efforts to make the Afghan peace process possible. He also assured the premier that his country wants improved trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Today (Thursday) is the last day of the Afghan delegation’s five-day visit to Pakistan. It came here to attend the 8th meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA).
Pakistan signed a joint appeal letter on Tuesday seeking a $4.8 billion loan from international financial institutions for a Trans-Afghan railway line project with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
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The rail link would connect Pakistan and Uzbekistan via Afghanistan and later the Central Asian countries.
“Today, the prime minister signed a letter for a joint approach with Afghanistan & Uzbekistan for asking international financial agencies to finance the railway from Pakistan to Uzbekistan through Afghanistan. This fits well with our vision for trade and connectivity through Afghanistan to the Central Asia Republics,” Dawood tweeted.
The signing ceremony, held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad, was also attended by Uzbekistan’s Minister for Transport Makhkamov Ilkham. The joint appeal had already been signed by the presidents of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Read more: PM Imran Khan gives directives to speed up countrywide CPEC projects