Pakistan extending all-out support for Afghan peace

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Monday his country is "consistently extending every possible support for the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan." President Zardari, who met his visiting Afghan counterpart at his house in Islamabad, said that Pakistan had also been making all-out efforts for intra-Afghan reconciliation as a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan was in its own vital interest, according to an official press release. The president further stressed the need for joint efforts and close coordination to cope with the evolving situation in the region with focus on the peace process in Afghanistan and the post-withdrawal scenario. 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. The spokesman to the Pakistani President Farhatullah Babar said that the two leaders discussed matters pertaining to Pak-Afghan bilateral ties, the evolving regional situation, the peace process in Afghanistan and other issues of mutual concern. The Pakistani president said, "we firmly believe that our dreams of peace and prosperity cannot be realized as long as Afghanistan remains in turmoil." The Afghan president was accompanied by a high-level delegation including cabinet members and senators.