Ghani dubs Pakistan 'important pillar' of Afghanistan foreign policy

[Men in Green]

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai said Saturday that partnership with Pakistan is an important pillar of Afghanistan’s foreign policy, adding that this was a historical occasion to mend ties.

He was addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said adoption of practical steps would improve the bilateral relations of the two countries, adding that the Central Asia-South Asia Regional Energy and Trade (CASA) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) projects would help link the two countries.

Ghani said both countries were on the same page for abolition of poverty and underdevelopment, adding that people of both countries desired peace, stability and security.

The Afghan president also said that they looked forward to the visit of PM Nawaz in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Nawaz said the two sides recognised the need to build a strong relationship based on mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The premier said Pak-Afghan cooperation was imperative for peace and prosperity in the region.

He said they face formidable challenges, including terrorism, security, environment and transnational crimes. He said that we could only meet them by exploiting the full potential of cooperation collectively.

Nawaz reaffirmed that peaceful, prosperous and united Afghanistan is in Pakistan's vital interest and also reaffirmed support for intra Afghan reconciliation process saying this should be fully Afghan-led and Afghan owned.

The premier said Pakistan is committed to upgrading cooperation in border security, defence, Afghan reconstruction, capacity building, parliamentary exchanges and cultural links.

Furthermore, Nawaz said Pakistan has been a second home for Ghani, adding that the latter has done significant work for the development of Afghanistan in the past as well.

Pak-Afghan delegation level talks at PM House
The press conference came after formal talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Islamabad. The contact is aimed at promoting bilateral relations in the realm of security, trade and economy, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.

PM Nawaz led the Pakistani delegation while the Afghan side is led by Ghani.

The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and holding threadbare discussions on ways and means to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

Earlier today, a formal welcome ceremony in honour of Ghani was held at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

On the occasion, a smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces presented a guard of honour to the visiting dignitary. Anthems of both the countries were also played on the occasion.

Later, the premier introduced his cabinet members to the Afghan president while Ghani introduced his delegation to the premier.

Ghani arrived in Islamabad on Friday for a two-day visit to the country.

Take a look: Afghan president assures Pakistan of anti-terror cooperation

Pakistan is one of the first countries President Ghani, who was sworn in in September, has chosen to visit. He earlier toured Saudi Arabia and China.

Ghani’s visit is being regarded as a two-day fence-mending mission.

Its outcome would indicate how the relationship has transformed with the change in government in Kabul from one marred with deep distrust to a cautious desire for cooperation.

Islamabad’s relations with Kabul, which have historically been tense and complicated, plummeted to new lows over the past couple of years due to reignited border disputes, counter-terrorism differences and exchange of allegations. At the root of the tensions between the two countries are unfulfilled expectations on both sides.

 

[xyxmt]

So I guess India is out.
Ghani goes to Saudia Arabia (was told to kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
Goes to China (was told Kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
comes to Pakistan (Says we are brothers from different mothers)
hug hug kiss kiss

 

[Kompromat]

I like this guy. I think that both Pakistan's civil and military leadership is serious about working with Dr Ghani. We need to be aware of sabotage attempts from a specific regional country.

 

[Icewolf]

Now we just need to send all illegal Afghans back to their country and fund development work in Afghanistan.

 

[KingMamba]

Nothing but good things to say about Ghani so far, visits he has made show he is willing to have a more balanced foreign policy which is best for Afghanistan imo.

 

[Viper0011.]

So I guess India is out.
Ghani goes to Saudia Arabia (was told to kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
Goes to China (was told Kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
comes to Pakistan (Says we are brothers from different mothers). hug hug kiss kiss

You forgot another key thing, the US had also told them per Pak gov't's message that the tribal areas are being cleaned up. Afghanistan is now responsible for any issues that happen on the other side of the border from within Afghanistan. Pakistan leadership had gone out to say that they will start to "hot pursuit" into Afghanistan to hunt the terrorists after the current operation ends.
So all this pressure had to smooth out a lot of angles. Plus, 95% trade needs an ocean and that's Gawader and Karachi for you or the road trade through Lahore. You can't live in the water and be enemies with sharks.......

 

[Spring Onion]

I like this guy. I think that both Pakistan's civil and military leadership is serious about working with Dr Ghani. We need to be aware of sabotage attempts from a specific regional country.

In my personal opinion since he had almost no link with Pakistan which is a good thing for shaping up relations between the two countries during his tenure.

The very reason will play a positive role in making him understand many things which Karzai despite knowing could not have understood due to his bias.

 

[Green Arrow]

Good Relationships between these two countries is vital for peace and stability in our region. I think, giving briefing to the afghan president at GHQ was a good step indeed

 

[Jaanbaz]

So I guess India is out.
Ghani goes to Saudia Arabia (was told to kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
Goes to China (was told Kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
comes to Pakistan (Says we are brothers from different mothers)
hug hug kiss kiss

Someone in New Delhi will be having many sleepless nights.

 

[asquare]

So I guess India is out.
Ghani goes to Saudia Arabia (was told to kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
Goes to China (was told Kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
comes to Pakistan (Says we are brothers from different mothers)
hug hug kiss kiss

Isn't this an exceedingly silly reading of diplomacy? What if he meets Modi next and says India is Afghanistan's most valuable regional ally? Will that mean Pakistan/Saudi Arabia/China are 'out'?

On a different point, I tend to share everyone's positive assessment of Ghani. In particular, his desire to engage the Taliban in talks- something that should have been done in 2002-03, when many Taliban commanders who were willing to participate in the new order in Afghanistan were betrayed.

 

[Farah Sohail]

I like this guy. I think that both Pakistan's civil and military leadership is serious about working with Dr Ghani. We need to be aware of sabotage attempts from a specific regional country.

True... I think we need to be ready for an escalation again on our eastern border... Also India will try to stir up support for TTP as well... I think the best confidence building measure from Afghanistan would be to handover Fazlullah to Pak... Lets see if Ashraf Ghani is willing to go this far soon, or not? I think if he does tht.. Pak will give its unconditional support to Afghanistan as much as possible for Afghanistan' s stability... But will he do it..is the real question?

 

[PakEye]

Salute to Ashraf Ghani Brave Step
president Ashraf Ghani is Power Sharing with Prime Minister of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah
Ashraf Ghani sharing a National Unity Government after he and Abdullah Abdullah signed a deal for a power-sharing government in Kabu.The agreement forming the new government, brokered by American Secretary of State John Kerry, under power sharing Abdullah Abdullah is working as P.M

 

[PakEye]

So I guess India is out.
Ghani goes to Saudia Arabia (was told to kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
Goes to China (was told Kick India out if you want a peaceful Afghanistan)
comes to Pakistan (Says we are brothers from different mothers)
hug hug kiss kiss

Keep in mind that Abdullah Abdullah P.M of Afghanistan is Famous Friedn of India and 1000 Afghan Army Officers are in India for there Army Training.

his excellency Dr. Ashraf Ghani President of Afghanistan Statement regarding status of his powers in Present Afghan regime :-
In an interview with The New York Times last month, Mr. Ghani cited a parable to describe the problem confronting them. “Two people are riding in a boat and one of them took a chisel and started making a hole in the bottom and the other one said, ‘What are you doing? You’re going to drown us.’ And the other said, ‘I’m making the hole in my part of the boat.’ ”

“That captures it,” he said. “There are not two boats.”

 

[asquare]

True... I think we need to be ready for an escalation again on our eastern border... Also India will try to stir up support for TTP as well... I think the best confidence building measure from Afghanistan would be to handover Fazlullah to Pak... Lets see if Ashraf Ghani is willing to go this far soon, or not? I think if he does tht.. Pak will give its unconditional support to Afghanistan as much as possible for Afghanistan' s stability... But will he do it..is the real question?

Wouldn't handing over Fazlullah be a part of some sort of quid-pro-quo? Some action on the groups in Quetta? I'm sure someone in the ISI knows Mullah Omar's home address.

I don't think Ghani's willingness to engage the Afghan Taliban should be mistaken as the willingness to participate in some form of a power sharing agreement with them. There will be no blanket amnesty and the Afghans will want many of the Taliban old guard brought to justice.

How will this square with Pakistani policy? Can Pakistan afford to crack down on the Afghan Taliban when they are trying to co-opt them (and the Haqqanis) in the war against the TTP. This thread Pakistan's War...AQ, AT, TTP and USA? has several details about this policy.

Also, I'm no blind nationalist and am wholly willing to admit to India's various foreign policy machinations (which I greatly disapprove of). However, India has nothing to do with the TTP.

 

[waz]

Ghani is a top guy. Good to see ties progressing between the two countries.