<p>PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Afghan and Pakistani parliament speakers are optimistic about the outcome of the ongoing peace negotiations in Doha.</p>
<p>At a meeting in Islamabad on Friday night, Mir Rahman Rahmani and Asad Qaiser hoped the dream of a peaceful and prosperous <a href="/en/afghanistan" class="glossify-link">Afghanistan</a> was set to be realised.</p>
<p>“A peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan would not only ensure regional peace, it would also be vital to the socio-economic development of both countries,” Qaiser said.</p>
<p>The <a href="/en/wolesi-jirga" class="glossify-link">Wolesi Jirga</a> speaker arrived in Islamabad at the head of a 17-member parliamentary delegation on Friday for talks with Pakistani leaders.</p>
<p><a href="/en/pakistan" class="glossify-link">Pakistan</a> had repeatedly evinced a keen interest in a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, which was in the interest of the entire region, Qaiser remarked.</p>
<p>He called on Afghan government and <a href="/en/taliban" class="glossify-link">Taliban</a> negotiators to seize the opportunity offered by the Doha talks for lasting peace in the country.</p>
<p>About achievements of the Pak-Afghan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Qaiser said tariff barriers and procedural impediments to bilateral and Afghan Transit Trade had been removed.</p>
<p>The neighbours could achieve economic self-reliance by capitalising on their strategic location, he believed, hoping parliamentary contacts help enhance bilateral cooperation and trade.</p>
<p>Rahman commended Qaiser’s efforts to promote bilateral trade, focusing on the issues of transit trade and opening of new trade routes on the <a href="/en/durand-line" class="glossify-link">Durand Line</a>.</p>
<p>“Afghanistan has vast potential of investment and trade opportunities and our business community is looking forward to investment in Pakistan.”</p>
<p>The visiting speaker sounded hopeful about the success of the ongoing talks, saying peace would usher in an era of progress and stability in his country.</p>
<p>mud</p>
