Pakistan to work closely with next Afghan govt

ISLAMABAD (Pajhwok): Pakistan on Thursday said it would work closely with the next Afghan government and try to give further impetus to bilateral relations in diverse fields.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tasneem Aslam told reporters in Islamabad that Pakistan believed a strong and stable Afghanistan was in its interest and vital for peace in the region.

Welcoming the successful conduct of Saturday’s presidential elections in Afghanistan, she said Islamabad extended all-out support to a free and peaceful electoral process and adopted many measures to reinforce security arrangements there to help conduct peaceful polls.

At the request of the Afghan government, she said border crossing points at Torkham and Chaman were kept open to enable eligible Afghan voters in Pakistan to go to Afghanistan to vote.

She said Pakistan enhanced vigilance and security along entire length of Pak-Afghan border; sealed all the crossing points, deployed additional troops, aerial surveillance, and enhanced communication through border coordination centres.

rm/ma

Views: 3