Pakistan vows to reinforce energy, communication links with Afghanistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif held a joint press conference with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, who is on a one day visit to Islamabad, with Sharif vowing to reinforce energy and communication links with his neighbour through trans-regional initiatives. According to an official press release, Pakistan stressed an "early and full implementation" of the Transit Trade Agreement with Afghanistan and vowed to reinforce energy and communication links with its neighbour through trans-regional initiatives. The Pakistani Prime Minister said, "we believe these initiatives offer rich dividends for Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region." The Afghan President met one-on-one with Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif for wide range talks on issues of common interest also focused on the common challenges the two countries face and the huge opportunities they can exploit. During the press conference premier Nawaz announced that the two sides, in the meeting of their finance ministers, had agreed on several projects on communications, power and a railway. The projects included fast completion of Torkham-Jalalabad additional carriageway and the initiation of other highway projects, besides the early implementation of the Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade (CASA 1000) and the development of a joint hydel power project on Kunar River. During the delegation level talks, the two sides also agreed on the establishment of rail links to connect Torkham and Jalalabad as well as Chaman to Spin Bolduk. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Umer Daudzai also signed the "Agreed Minutes" of their meeting that was witnessed both by Prime Minister Sharif and President Karzai, said the press release. The Afghan President stressed the need for fully exploiting the economic opportunities available for both the countries and said that Pakistan, as a neighbour, could expect good things from Afghanistan, just like Afghanistan expected the same from it. He further said that his country's primary concerns were security issues and terrorism that were a threat to its peace and stability adding that the objective of his visit was to seek Pakistan's support for his country to achieve peace and stability. The meeting of the two leaders was followed by delegation level talks including high officials from both the countries. The Afghan President also expressed appreciation for being invited to visit Pakistan. Later the Pakistani PM hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting Afghan President and his delegation including cabinet members and senior officials, the press release added. A major political and security transition has to take place after the completion of withdrawal of NATO/ISAF forces from Afghanistan on December 2014, which adds much importance to the visit of the Afghan President.