<p>PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Senior Pakistani and Afghan officials have pledged to make a fresh start in their relations, marred by tensions and allegations.</p>
<p>The pledge comes hard on the heels of the <a href="/en/afghanistan" class="glossify-link">Afghanistan</a> Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) being put in place,</p>
<p>At their meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai and National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua agreed to step up efforts for the success of the plan.</p>
<p>They vowed to take a fresh start, bridge existing gaps, build formal cooperation mechanisms in all areas of mutual interest and initiate collective actions to boost bilateral trust.</p>
<p>Janjua hoped APAPPS would be instrumental in bringing both sides closer. Hekmat Karzai also believed the initiative would make bilateral cooperation sustainable and would cover the gaps in the relationship.</p>
<p>Both countries would have to overcome challenges in their relation. Economic cooperation should be given a chance to surpass political impediments, they agreed.</p>
<p>Also on Tuesday, Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal met Pakistan Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on ways of improving bilateral relations.</p>
<p>mud</p>
