Ghani to meet Indonesian president next week

KABUL, a official said in Jakarta on Thursday.

The Jakarta Globe quoted a foreign ministry official as saying that Ghani would arrive on his first official visit in Indonesia on April 5-6 for talks on boosting relations between the two countries.

Ferdy Piay, director general for South and Central Asia at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, told reporters: "The Afghan president wants to see Indonesia’s experience in conflict resolution…”

The 'best practice' could be emulated to deal with current troubles in Afghanistan, he said, hoping the Indonesian input might support the reconciliation processes in Afghanistan.

Indonesia was willing to continue supporting peace building processes in Afghanistan, Ferdy said, believing collaboration in areas of police and anti-money laundering training would help stabilise the war-torn country.

Ghani will be briefed on Indonesia’s counter-terrorism efforts and de-radicalisation programmes.

Annual trade between the two Muslim-majority countries stood at $16 million in 2016. Most of Indonesia’s export goods to Afghanistan are routed through a third country, such as Pakistan or Iran.

The two presidents may sign four memoranda of understanding on collaboration in education in Jakarta.

PAN Monitor/mud