Pakistan supports Karzai’s roadmap for stability and peace: Gilani
ISLAMABAD, June 11 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said Pakistan had constantly supported President Karzai’s roadmap for stability, peace, prosperity and development in Afghanistan.Addressing a luncheon reception hosted for Afghan President Hamid Karzai and members of his entourage, Prime Minister Gilani said, “we have extended unequivocal support to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan with the provision that it has to be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led.”He said the inaugural meeting of Joint Commission was a milestone in bilateral cooperation and a manifestation of desire to work closely with Afghanistan for peace in that country.
Gilani said, “I am confident that under the able leadership of Chairman, High Peace Council, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, whom we hold in high esteem, the reconciliation process will bear fruits.”
The Prime Minister said Pakistan would help carry forward the Afghan-led reconciliation process and Afghanistan could count on Pakistan’s support to that effect.
President Karzai speaking on this occasion thanked Pakistan for extending its support to the Afghan reconciliation process.
He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan while working jointly would be able to ensure peace and security in the region for the bright future of their people.
Recalling his two highly fruitful visits to Kabul - first in December  2010 and second in April, 2011, Gilani said the substantive discussions gave impetus to the wide-ranging cooperation in various areas.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan shared culture, faith, history, geography and a vision of stability, peace and prosperity in the region.
Gilani said Pakistanis had tremendous goodwill for their Afghan brothers and sisters as they had interacted with each other for centuries.
The Prime Minister said, “we have the capacity to manage our own affairs. We are capable of delivering.”
He said ,”Afghanistan stands high in Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities.We will make all efforts to strengthen friendly relations with Afghanistan.”
The Prime Minister said Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan were based on cardinal principles of inter-state relations - respect for latter’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and non-interference in internal affairs.  He added that Pakistan would continue to abide by these principles.
Referring to the remarks of President Karzai that “we must move forward from mutual trust and reassurances to practical steps” the Prime Minister said “This indeed is our desire too”.
Gilani said the situation in Afghanistan had entered a crucial stage and with the dawn of peace in sight, reconstruction and development efforts needed to be redoubled.
He said there was a dire need now to chalk out a clear path to embark on cooperation in trade and economic spheres.
The Prime Minister said, “We discussed the ways and the means to realize not only our bilateral potential but also the regional potential.”
Gilani said there had been a flurry of exchange of parliamentarians and people from other walks of life. The momentum must be sustained, he added.
He said there was a vast scope to cooperate  bilaterally in areas such as connectivity, infrastructure development, energy, mines and minerals, Special Economic and Industrial Zones and the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs).
Realization of mega projects like Peshawar-Jalalabad-Herat Expressway and rail link between Peshawar and Jalalabad would benefit the two countries and their people, he added.
He said the new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement had come into force on Friday and it was a momentous occasion and a concrete step that the two countries could take ample pride of.
He said the agreement would usher in more economic opportunities for the two countries and beyond.
“We can now consider jointly proposing trilateral transit trade agreements with the Central Asian Republics to maximize the available economic opportunities,” he added.
Referring to mega regional projects of TAPI Gas Pipeline and CASA-1000, the Prime Minister said their speedy actualization would benefit all.
To a question regarding cross-border attacks by Afghan militants at checkposts in Dir and Bajaur, the Afghan President termed them a worrying sign. Both the countries needed to work together to eliminate the radicals and their sanctuaries, he added.
He said, “Such incidents are reminder for us that things have gone beyond tolerance.” However, it was the duty of both Pakistan and Afghan governments to take action to control radicalism.
When asked whether the government managed to cancel his possible meeting with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, he said he had gladly accepted the invitation for the meeting, which, however, could not be materialized due to his pressing engagements.
He said he would meet Nawaz Sharif whenever he visited Pakistan next time.
Prime Minister Gilani said he had invited Nawaz Sharif to attend the  reception he hosted in honour of President Karzai. However, the offer was declined by Nawaz Sharif through a letter.
Karzai said regional forums like SAARC, ECO and SCO were very important for regional development and prosperity. He said full membership of SCO was important for Pakistan for playing an important role in the regional development.
Replying to another question, Gilani said Pakistan and Afghanistan were important partners and Pakistan was interested in full membership of the SCO to play more active role in the economic development of the
region.   
The Prime Minister said the issue of bilateral trade and transit trade agreement between the two countries was also discussed in the meeting.  Pakistan was interested to promote trade with Afghanistan and even working to expand trade with Central Asian states.