Islamabad endorses security, trade talks with Kabul

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has supported continued diplomatic engagement with the interim Afghan government to address bilateral issues.

At a meeting on relations with Afghanistan in Islamabad on Monday, Dar underlined the imperative of sustained dialogue with the Afghan government on security and trade, the Foreign Office said.

Special Representative for Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq provided briefed participants, including Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch and senior officials of the foreign ministry, on his three-day visit to Kabul.

During the trip, Sadiq met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi and others on irritants between the neighbours.

The two sides are due to hold consultations before Eidul Fitr, with Afghanistan’s commerce minister likely visit Pakistan after the festival.

Kabul and Islamabad have agreed on the need for holding frequent meetings, normalising trade ties and wrapping up the Preferential Trade Agreement.

mud