Nisar Ahmed Faizi Ghoryani, the Afghan Minister for Industry and Commerce on Wednesday met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad and the two discussed issues around bilateral relations and developments in the Afghan peace process.
 
In the meeting PM Khan said that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and he emphasized the need for a negotiated political settlement.
 
“The Prime Minister, while highlighting the close fraternal ties between the two countries, reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Reiterating his conviction that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for a negotiated political settlement,” the Office of Pakistan’s Prime Minister said in a statement.
 
Imran Khan also stressed the need for all sides to take measures for the reduction of violence leading to ceasefire.
 
Pakistan’s prime minister added that peace in Afghanistan would be beneficial for the entire region by enhancing regional connectivity and providing new opportunities for economic cooperation. 
 
“The Prime Minister remarked that Pakistan and Afghanistan have untapped economic synergies and complementarities, which could be best realized through cooperation in the economic and trade sphere,” the statement said.
 
On the economic ties between the two nations, the statement said: “The Prime Minister mentioned the Trans-Afghan railway line project, “Mazar-e-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar,” and highlighted Pakistan’s support to Uzbekistan’s efforts to secure financing for the project. 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.
 
Meanwhile, Nisar Ahmed Faizi Ghoryani, the Afghan Minister for Industry and Commerce, conveyed the greetings of President Ashraf Ghani and highlighted the progress made on matters related to transit and bilateral trade.
 
“He appreciated the positive role played by Pakistan in facilitating the Afghan peace process and affirmed Afghanistan’s desire for enhanced trade and economic ties between the two countries,” according to the statement.
 
Abdul Razak Dawood, advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment also attended the meeting.
 
The Afghan delegation led by Nisar Ahmed Ghoryani is on a five-day visit to Pakistan from  27-31 December  2020 for the 8th meeting of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA).  
 
The new remarks by the Pakistani leaders comes as negotiators from both sides of the Afghan peace process are expected to resume their second round of talks on January 5.
 
Meanwhile, The peace negotiating team representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the talks with the Taliban on Wednesday said that the republic’s team will focus their efforts to end the war and protect the system in the second round of the talks, which will begin on January 5.
 
The republic’s chief negotiator Masoom Stanekzai said that in the second round of the talks efforts will be focused on a permanent end to the war-- not a gradual end to the conflict in Afghanistan.