KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Friday agreed that the both neighbouring countries faced common challenges and enemies, and there was a need to work together to overcome them.
Dar, who is leading a high level delegation to the 9th three-day session of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) with Afghanistan, called on President Karzai here.
The minister briefed the Afghan president on the agenda of the JEC as well as efforts made by Pakistan in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
President Karzai assured Dar that Afghanistan would fully support any and all initiatives in bilateral economic area. They agreed on the primacy of good brotherly bilateral linkages of the two countries.
The Afghan president underscored the importance and need for the reconciliation process in his country to ensure a peaceful future for Afghans. He also highlighted the importance of Pakistan's support in the reconciliation process.
The finance minister also conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which were warmly reciprocated by President Karzai.
The meeting was attended by the Afghan finance minister, national security advisor and the presidential advisor on foreign affairs. The Pakistani finance minister was assisted by Mohammad Sadiq, Ambassador of Pakistan to Kabul.
The JEC session will continue till February 24.
Ishaq Dar, in addition to attending the JEC session, will also visit major projects constructed by Pakistan under its bilateral assistance programme, including the newly-built Rehman Baba School and Hostel in the Afghan capital accommodating up to 1500 students, the Torkham-Jalalabad additional carriage way, Nishtar Kidney Centre in Jalalabad and the Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty of Balkh University in Mazar-e-Sharif.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will also meet the governors of Nangarhar and Mazar-i-Sharif during his visit to the provincial capitals.