Afghan PM seeks joint efforts to resolve refugee challenges in meeting with Dar

ISLAMABAD:

Afghanistan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund expressed hope that joint efforts between Afghanistan and Pakistan would be effective in addressing existing challenges, particularly in facilitating the dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.

This statement was made following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Afghan PM at the Gulkhana Palace on Thursday.

The Afghan PM welcomed Dar and his delegation, expressing hope that the visit would contribute positively to the advancement of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Read More: Dar hails UAP railway agreement as milestone in regional connectivity

He conveyed his greetings and best wishes to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating, “I am pleased that your previous visit yielded positive results, and I pray that this visit will likewise bear fruitful outcomes.”

In reference to the signing of the trilateral agreement among Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, he stated, “We are exerting our utmost efforts to ensure the success of the Trans-Afghan Project.”

He stated that no issue can be resolved through coercion or threats, and prayed for all parties to resolve matters through goodwill, mutual understanding, cooperation, fraternal relations, and principles of good neighbourliness.

During the meeting, Dar expressed his appreciation for Afghanistan’s warm hospitality and conveyed, on behalf of PM Shehbaz, his greetings and well wishes to the Afghan PM. He further extended an invitation to Afghan PM Akhund to visit Pakistan.

He noted that the agreements reached during the recent visit of the Pakistani delegation to Afghanistan had been successfully implemented.

Dar expressed satisfaction with the signing of the trilateral agreement between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan under the governance of the Islamic Emirate.

He further remarked that the Uzbek–Afghan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, which connects the three countries, would significantly enhance commercial and economic cooperation compared to previous levels.

Dar added that during his recent visit to the People’s Republic of China, he had requested the support of the Chinese government for the Trans-Afghan Project.

He expressed Pakistan’s aspiration for deeper bilateral ties so that future generations of both nations may coexist in an environment of brotherhood and harmony.

A meeting also took place between Dar and Afghan Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study of the UAP Rail Corridor.

Both sides engaged in detailed discussions on security matters and reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating regional threats.

Dar emphasised the need to address all pressing issues, particularly those related to security and border management, to fully realise the potential of economic cooperation and regional connectivity.

Earlier, the DPM attended the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor in Kabul.

Taking to X, Dar congratulated the leadership of the three countries, saying, “I congratulate the people & governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor.”

He also held a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting reinforced the strong ties between the three nations and their mutual commitment to peace, connectivity, trade, and regional development.