ONBOARD
PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT: President Mamnoon has emphasised upon Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani that Pakistan wants to see all Muslims of the
world united.He said if Iran presented proof of the presence of its
security guards inside Pakistan, those responsible would be duly
punished.
The president was talking to newsmen
onboard a plane returning from one-day Kabul visit where he attended the
Nauroz festival and participated in a session with the heads of Iran,
Afghanistan and Tajikistan in addition to separate meetings with them.
President
Karzai, appreciating the peace talks with the Taliban, said he was
anxious to negotiate with the Taliban on his side. President Mamnoon
termed the visit fruitful. Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid
was also with him.
The president said the respective state
heads accepted his invitation to tour Pakistan. He said in a session of
the four presidents, President Rouhani raised the issue of abduction of
Iranian guards and the alleged killing of one of them at which
President Mamnoon clearly said that Pakistan had nothing to do with the
tragic incident.
He noted that Pakistan did not allow
terrorism in any form. Mamnoon said the Iranian president was convinced
by his explanation.He said Pakistan assured the Afghan president of its
resolve against terrorism through peaceful means. He said he had
conveyed to the Afghan and Iranian presidents that Pakistan did not want
to create problems for its neighbours. “A third force is active to
create differences among us,” he stated.
He noted that
the Afghan president hinted at the presence of negative elements in
Afghanistan and Pakistan endeavouring to disturb the Pak-Afghan
relations and said such elements required elimination.
Moreover,
in a talk with Pakistani newsmen at his presidential office, President
Karzai denounced terrorism and remarked that his meeting with President
Mamnoon was pleasant and full of hope for better mutual relations.
APP
adds from Kabul: President Mamnoon arrived in the Afghan capital on
Thursday to attend the Nauroz festival on the invitation of President
Hamid Karzai.He was received by senior officials of Afghan government at
the Kabul Airport. Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Abrar
Hussain was also present. This is the first visit of the president to
Afghanistan since assuming office. In his speech at the quadrilateral
summit, President Mamnoon Hussain reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for
stable Afghanistan.
The summit was attended by Afghan
President Hamid Karzai, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Tajik
President Emomali Rahmanov.“Our four countries offer a unique confluence
of Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia with immense — yet still
untapped —economic, commercial and energy potential. Together, we can
play an important bridging role,” the president observed.
Our
countries are already working together on different energy,
connectivity and infrastructure projects including CASA-1000, TAPI,
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, and road and rail links, he added.
“Pakistan
has enhanced its bilateral assistance for reconstruction and
rehabilitation in Afghanistan to $500 million. Our focus is on projects
in infrastructure, roads and rails links, health, education and
capacity-building,” he stated.
He said Pakistan had offered 3,000 scholarships for the Afghan students.
Addressing
a ceremony to celebrate Nauroz festival, the president expressed strong
solidarity with the Afghan people.The ceremony was also attended by
President Karzai and heads of state of regional countries.
He
also conveyed greetings to 300 million people around the world, from
his own and on behalf of the people of Pakistan.He said the UN General
Assembly had already declared 21st March as the “International Day of
Nauroz.” Unesco has included Nauroz in the Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
He viewed that
through concrete measures, we could translate this vast potential into a
living reality and utilise it for advancing our socio-economic
development goals.He also reiterated his appreciation to President
Karzai for hosting this remarkable event.
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claims there are other ways to serve the country. The Press Trust of
India quoted the ‘Dhoom 3’ star as saying, "I am not shying away from
politics. I am not interested in politics. I am interested in touching
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