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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