Afghan President invites PM Abbasi for state-to-state comprehensive dialogue

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has invited Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a state-to-state comprehensive dialogue between the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations and to improve peace and stability in the region.

We need to commit to each other and invest in the bilateral relationship and Afghanistan needs to stand with Pakistan and both need to win peace together. Our peace is mutual, let's seek it together” President Ashraf Ghani said.

Today, I received Pakistani NSA at Dilkusha palace. As a follow up to #Kabul process, I have extended an official invitation to Pakistani Prime Minister to visit #Afghanistan. This is to initiate state to state comprehensive dialogue. pic.twitter.com/3LuN3tJFq3

— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) March 17, 2018

These views expressed by Afghan President after the meeting with Pakistan's envoy. Pakistan's National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua paid a day-long visit to Afghanistan on Saturday and met with President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, his counterpart Haneef Atmar, Minister of Defense and NDS Chief and other Afghan government key officials, said the information department.

Pakistan has expressed its strong support for Afghanistan’s peace offer. Pakistan and Afghanistan have reiterated their commitment to peace and stability of each other and agreed to work in a cooperative framework for a brighter future.

Nasser Khan Janjua assured the Afghan Officials of Pakistan's full support for the vision of peace and termed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's invitation to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as a good omen and that Pakistan will help in bringing both the countries more closely in the war against terrorism.

President Ashraf Ghani associated strong hopes with Pakistan and said, “We have made a sincere and serious offer of peace and together we have to make the best of it by rising beyond past. Let’s not remain prisoners of past and let's secure our future with the aim not to win the war but to end it for which Pakistan should help".

He termed the peace offer as a light on the other side of the tunnel in a war which had become rather perpetual. Seeking the closure of conflict instead of winning it is a righteous approach. He expressed deep sympathies with people of Afghanistan who have seen nothing but war for 40 years. He also expressed complete support for the peace offer which was long awaited.

Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah in his tweet indicated about the inter-state dialogue for improvement of relations between the two countries.

Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah met Nasser Janjua National Security Advisor of #Pakistan. They discussed inter-state dialogues for improvement of relations between the 2 countries, support for the Afghan Peace Process and the timely & new peace offer that Taliban should utilize. pic.twitter.com/HYwLScQkan

— Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) March 18, 2018

By addressing each other’s concerns, both sides expressed their resolve to work together and enhance cooperation to improve bilateral relations.

Afghan NDS Chief Haneef Atmar said, “It’s time to build bridges. We have a shared history and shared future. That is what our ancestors left for us and we have to leave for our children. We should work for our shared interests in all fields political, economic and security. We must protect our relationship and advance it further.”

Both the sides also agreed to seize this moment collectively and to improve bilateral relations in pursuit of the common objectives.