Afghan President Ghani, chief executive to visit Pakistan

ISLAMABAD -  Afghan consul general Professor Mohammad Moeen Marastial has disclosed that a high-level delegation from Kabul including Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah would visit Islamabad soon.

In an interaction with reporters in his office on Wednesday, the envoy said that the visit would be very important for the improvement of bilateral ties adding that he was optimistic about a breakthrough in talks between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban.

The Islamabad-Kabul relations became tense after the recent surge in the acts of terrorism inside Afghanistan and border clashes.

Five Frontier Corps soldiers were killed and nine suffered injuries in clashes with the Afghan security forces in Kurram Agency last month with the local officials claiming that the retaliatory action had killed 10 Afghan soldiers.

Afghan Peace Offer

Marastial also expressed his viewpoint over the peace offer extended by Ashraf Ghani in February, saying the Afghan Taliban would support the government’s efforts for the restoration of peace in the violence-battered country.

The Afghan diplomat claimed that his government’s talks with the Taliban were ‘heading towards betterment’, however, the spasm of violence unleashed in recent past portrays another picture.

“I am sure that the Afghan Taliban will support the government’s initiative for durable peace in the country,” he said.

PM Abbasi Visits Afghanistan

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had visited Afghan capital, Kabul, in April where he called on Afghan Taliban to join the political process.

Prime Minister Abbasi welcomed President Ghani’s vision for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and his offer of peace talks to Taliban. Both leaders called on the Taliban to respond positively to the peace offer and join the peace process without further delay.

They agreed that there was no military solution to the ongoing Afghan conflict and that the political solution was the best way forward. The two leaders reiterated that terrorism was a common enemy and threat.

They agreed not to allow their soils to be used for anti-state activities against each other. Both the leaders agreed that peace, prosperity and stability of the two countries are interlinked.

At that time, Prime Minister Abbasi had extended invitations to President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to visit Islamabad at their earliest convenience.