KABUL: Pakistan’s intelligence chief met Afghanistan’s new president to discuss ways to boost coordination in fighting militant attacks in the region, an official said yesterday, in a sign of improving ties between the often uneasy neighbours.
It was the third trip to Afghanistan in recent months for the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence chief, Razwan Akhtar, hinting at new cooperation between the countries that have long accused each other of harbouring Islamist insurgents.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met Akhtar on Sunday, said Ghani spokesman Nazifullah Salarzai.
“In this meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism and extremism,” Salarzai said. He declined to go into detail.
Ghani — unlike his predecessor Hamid Karzai who had difficult relations with Islamabad — made a state visit to Pakistan soon after being sworn into office last year, pledging to improve ties.
In the latest meeting, the sides agreed to coordinate against militant groups that fight against each government and exploit the porous border to flee military crackdowns.
Saudi Arabia may offer oil at subsidised rate
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has signalled its willingness to supply oil to Pakistan at the subsidised rate of $40 per barrel, a close aide to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said yesterday.
The facility can be utilised to reduce load-shedding in the short-term and provide an opportunity in the medium-term to restructure the power sector by eliminating circular debt, ensuring recovery from the public sector and reducing system losses to bring it to a self-sustainable level.
The official claimed that the Saudi rulers were in close contact with the Nawaz government, particularly in reference to minimising the country’s energy woes. According to the official, the Saudis have been showing extraordinary interest in helping out the government.
Agencies
