ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military told new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that the security of the two countries was “inextricably linked” yesterday as Ghani kicked off a two-day trip aimed at rebuilding damaged ties between the two countries.
Relations have been harmed by regular accusations from both countries that the other is harbouring anti-government insurgents who cross the porous border and mount deadly attacks.
The trip is Ghani’s first state visit to Pakistan.
A tweet from Pakistan’s Major General Asim Bajwa, head of the military’s public relations wing, said Ghani’s trip took place amid a positive atmosphere and that border cooperation was “in focus”.
“Tribute to Pak sacrifices, Bodes well for region,” he said. “Security, stability a shared goal. Our security inextricably linked.”
Pakistan Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said discussions between Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who took power last year, would be wide-ranging.
“Peace and stability, everything to do with bilateral cooperation, political engagement, economic cooperation, the training programme - everything is on the table,” she said.
One of Pakistan’s chief concerns is the growing influence of its arch rival India in Afghanistan as Nato troops pull out this year. India has trained hundreds of Afghan security officers under a bilateral agreement.
Earlier this month, the Pakistani military offered a brigade-level training package to the Afghan military. Such offers have been made before, but the Afghans declined amid suspicions that Pakistan was sheltering Afghan insurgents.
Ghani met yesterday with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, and the two set a goal of doubling two-way trade to $5bn within two years, an Afghan statement said.
Ghani, who took power in September following a protracted election dispute, has sought a role for China in mediating peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban.
China enjoys good relations with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, which also faces a Taliban insurgency, and is concerned about Islamist militancy in its Xinjiang region.
Aslam says Pakistan welcomes an expanded role for China and is awaiting any requests from the Afghan government that might help kick-start the moribund Afghan peace process.
Both nations accuse each other of allowing militants to shelter in the border regions and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability.
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai routinely accused Pakistan of continuing to fuel the Taliban insurgency to destabilise his country as a hedge against Indian influence there.
Islamabad denies the charge but its support, and that of its powerful military, are seen as important for peace in Afghanistan as Nato pulls out its combat troops.
Pakistan was one of only three countries to recognise the hardline Taliban regime that ruled Kabul from 1996 until 2001, when it was deposed by a US-led international military coalition.
Despite repeated visits to Pakistan by the former president, there was little palpable improvement in relations during Karzai’s 13-years in power.
The long-running tensions between the two countries were underlined by a US Pentagon report last week that said Pakistan continued to use “proxy forces” to destabilise Afghanistan.
Pakistan has long been concerned about the influence of arch-rival India in Afghanistan, fearing “encirclement” on its western border.
But diplomats say that Ghani’s presidency, which started in September, offers a major opportunity at a time when US-led Nato troops are withdrawing from the fight against the Taliban.
Ghani arrived at Chaklala air base in Rawalpindi, Islamabad’s twin city, yesterday and was greeted by Sartaj Aziz, Sharif’s special advisor on foreign affairs.
Ghani, who emerged as president after a long dispute over fraud-mired elections, has said that seeking peace is his first priority after decades of conflict in Afghanistan.
Since taking power the 65-year-old former World Bank economist has made trips to Saudi Arabia and China, two key allies of Pakistan.
A Western diplomat said Ghani had used the visits to ask Riyadh and Beijing to encourage Pakistan to support peace efforts in Afghanistan.
According to the diplomat, two approaches to dealing with the Taliban are currently being considered by Afghanistan.
Agencies
