Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has announced that trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan are going to resume, and under this process, Afghanistan will be allowed to use Pakistani ports.
This development is being described as an important step towards improving relations between the two countries and establishing peace in the region. Khawaja Asif said in an interview with the international broadcasting organization Al Jazeera Arabia that the peace agreement signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent days aims to eliminate terrorist networks and reduce bilateral tensions. The Defence Minister said that the agreement was reached with the mediation and cooperation of Qatar and Turkey, who played a key role in it. A meeting will be held in Istanbul next week to finalize further details of the agreement. He said, “The Afghan Defence Minister has also acknowledged the fact that the main cause of tension between the two countries is terrorism, and now a joint solution is being sought.”
According to Khawaja Asif, the agreement will reduce border tensions and restore bilateral trade and transit systems. Afghanistan will once again be able to conduct commercial transportation through Pakistani ports. The Defence Minister clarified that Afghan refugees who have legal documents will be able to stay in Pakistan, but the process of returning illegally residing Afghans will continue. Khawaja Asif cautioned, “It is too early to say that we are 100 percent satisfied, we will have to see in the coming weeks and months how effectively this agreement is implemented.” He stressed that the use of the Pak-Afghan border should now be in accordance with international norms to avoid any tension or misunderstanding in the future.
The Defence Minister concluded his statement with the words, “Pakistan and Afghanistan have been neighbours for centuries, we cannot change our geography. Now is the time for both countries to usher in a new era of trust, peace, and progress.
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