Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday visited Pakistan’s military headquarters in a sign of warming ties following more than a decade of mutual distrust between the two US allies.
Ghani appeared to be aiming to reset a relationship that was often tense under former Afghan president Hamid Karzai — who routinely accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye to the Taliban and other militants carrying out cross-border attacks from lawless tribal regions. Pakistan in turn accused Kabul of failing to police its own borders.
The Afghan leader was received at the military headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi by Pakistani army chief General Raheel Sharif, and was given a briefing on the security situation along the Afghan border, the Pakistani military said in a statement. Ghani was accompanied by Afghan Defense Minister Rahim Wardak, the chief of the Afghan army and other officials.
Photo: Reuters
The Pakistani army said Ghani praised its efforts to fight terrorism and expressed his desire to bolster security and defense ties with Islamabad, including cooperation in training and border management.
The Afghan president’s office in Kabul said the two countries had agreed to double bilateral trade, currently worth an annual US$2.5 billion, within two years. It did not mention security issues. The Afghan leader is expected to meet Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain during the visit, as well as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said that during Ghani’s visit the two sides would discuss a range of issues, including how to improve economic cooperation, border security and counterterrorism.
“Peace and stability in Afghanistan are in Pakistan’s vital interest,” Aslam said.
Ghani hopes Pakistan can help convince the Taliban to return to peace talks. In the past Pakistan has released jailed militants to facilitate negotiations.
Aslam said Islamabad supports “an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.” During his meetings, Ghani has raised the issue of improved access to Pakistani markets for Afghan businessmen. His delegation of 145 includes businessmen as well as senior Afghan security officials.
In Washington, US Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US welcomed the prospect of improved cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and described Ghani’s trip as a good opportunity for that.
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