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Khalili assured Pakistan will continue to push for peace
Hizb-e-Wahadat-e-Islami Chairman Muhammad Karim Khalili on Tuesday met with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and chief of army Qamar Javed Bajwa where they discussed issues of mutual interest, peace and stability in the region, and the Afghan peace process.
During the meeting Qureshi said that Pakistan would continue its reconciliatory efforts for peace in Afghanistan with a strong belief that there was ‘no military solution to the conflict’.
“A comprehensive political dialogue acceptable to the Afghan leadership is the only sustainable solution,” Qureshi said.
Khalili’s three-day visit is part of Pakistan’s ongoing policy to reach out to political leadership in Afghanistan to forge common understanding on the peace process.
Qureshi stressed that no other country desired peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan.
He said the progress made so far in the intra-Afghan talks was ‘welcomed’ and also lauded the launch of the second round of talks in Doha.
Pakistan also said India was a spoiler in Afghanistan and that Pakistan had irrefutable evidence in this regard.
“We believe that peace and stability in the region is linked to lasting peace in Afghanistan,” Qureshi added.
Khalili in turn thanked Pakistan and welcomed Islamabad’s role in the Afghan peace process.
He also thanked Qureshi for the warm welcome he had received and expressed gratitude to the leadership and people of Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for so many years.
The Pakistan foreign office said that Pakistan remained steadfast in its support for an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution of the conflict in Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
During his visit to Pakistan Khalili will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, Khalili met with Pakistan chief of army Qamar Javed Bajwa earlier where they discussed issues of mutual interest, peace and stability in the region, and the Afghan peace process.
“Peace in Afghanistan means Peace in Pakistan”, a stable and prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours is in Pakistan’s national interest.” Bajwa’s office said.
Khalili is the latest in a string of officials and politicians to visit Pakistan. Over the past few months numerous public figures have met with Pakistani officials including the Chairman for the High Council of National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah as well as Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate, says that Afghanistan currently has a unified central government, and that no groups engaging in destructive activities are present in the country. He added that they will not allow anyone to undermine the country’s security.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, Mujahid made these remarks at a graduation ceremony for commandos of the Special Forces Division. The ceremony was attended by Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Minister of Interior; several cabinet ministers; foreign ambassadors and military attachés; special representatives; and a number of officials and military personnel.
Addressing the commandos, Yaqoob Mujahid said: “In the service you perform, make the pleasure of Almighty Allah your sole intention, because Almighty Allah will reward you for such an intention in this world and the hereafter. There is now a unified central government in the country, and no groups engaging in destructive activities are present. We will also not allow anyone to undermine security.”
He also added: “I assure our people that these forces will defend the lives, property, and territory of their beloved country with full courage and wisdom. I tell all foreign countries that Afghanistan is now secure, and there is no enemy in this country, whether from within or outside, that poses a threat to others.”
At the ceremony, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani also said: “For half a century, Afghanistan did not have an independent army. However, now, it has an organized army and other security forces. You are not a ceremonial army, nor do you operate to serve the interests of others; rather, you are an organized and independent army. Although we may be materially weak, we are stronger than others in terms of morale and spirituality. We must maintain high morale, avoid acting emotionally in military affairs, and respond to the enemy at the appropriate time. We are not a threat to anyone; rather, we are defenders of our own land.”
It is worth noting that 1,000 young commandos of the Special Forces Division of the Ministry of Defense graduated from the eighth training course after completing six months of professional, ideological, and commando training.
During the ceremony, the graduating commandos, in cooperation with the Air Force, demonstrated coordinated practical and military exercises using various types of unmanned aircraft.
The action plan for establishing special economic zones across the country was approved on Wednesday by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
According to a decree issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate, these special economic zones will be established in the provinces of Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Herat, Paktia, and Kunduz.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in cooperation with other relevant ministries and government agencies, will identify the land required for these zones, determine the necessary sectoral activities and services, and create the conditions needed to attract investment.
The establishment of these special economic zones is aimed at attracting new investments, achieving a relative balance between exports and imports, and expanding production activities in a suitable environment, paving the way for a new phase of economic development in the country.
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Russian deputy prime minister to visit Kabul with high-level economic delegation
The visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is scheduled to visit Kabul on Thursday, leading a high-level economic delegation, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
According to a statement by the ministry, the visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for officials from both countries to discuss ways of expanding bilateral economic cooperation and identifying new areas for trade and investment.
The ministry did not provide further details about the delegation’s programme or the specific projects expected to be discussed during the visit.
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