Afghan, Pakistani FMs discuss security and trade in Islamabad

Amir Khan Muttaqi, foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), and his Pakistani counterpart, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, discussed security and trade in a bilateral meeting in Islamabad on Sunday.

Muttaqi and Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed their desire to pursue continuous and practical engagement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

On peace and security, the foreign ministers emphasized the need for enhanced coordination to counter terrorism and deepening bilateral cooperation, the statement said.

Regarding bilateral and transit trade, the two sides stressed the importance of removing impediments to trade in order to advance the goal of enhanced regional economic integration and connectivity, according to the statement.

Muttaqi and Minister for Commerce and Industry, Nooruddin Azizi, are on a visit to Pakistan from 05-08 May 2023. Besides holding bilateral meeting, Muttaqi also participated in the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue with the participation of the Chinese Foreign Minister, where the three sides agreed to advance political engagement, counterterrorism cooperation and enhance trade, investments and connectivity under the trilateral framework.