ISLAMABAD - A delegation of Afghan senators, led by Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar, called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday and emphasised the need for exchange of parliamentary delegations to cement brotherly relations between the people of the two countries.The prime minister said the exchange of delegations was essential to enhance bilateral relations and Pakistan had always made consistent and sincere efforts to improve ties with Afghanistan. Gilani reiterated that since peace and security of Afghanistan was critical for peace and security of Pakistan, Islamabad always supported President Karzai’s peace efforts. “Pakistan will continue with its support to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation.” Gilani recalled that Pakistan extended its full cooperation to the Afghan team that visited Islamabad with regard to the investigation of assassination of Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani. He said that Pakistan was committed to completing the construction of Torkham-Jalalabad Road.The Pakistani government is offering 2,000 fully-funded scholarships to the Afghan students, Gilani said and agreed to enhance the number of scholarships on the request of leader of the Afghan delegation. Earlier, Senate Chairman Farooq H Naik said Pakistan attached importance to its relations with Afghanistan because both the countries shared common religion, culture, history and geographical proximity.  Afghan delegation head Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar highlighted the commonalities between the people of two countries, saying this had brought them together to strive for the common destiny of peace and prosperity.The members of the delegation include Musa Arefi, Deputy Head of Mission, Senator Lutfullah Baba, Member, Senator Gul Ahmad Azimi, Member, Senator Darakhail Mangal, Member, Senator Arifullah Pashtoon, Member, Senator Hazrat Shah Nooristani, Member, Senator Muhammad Daud Ghafari, Member, Senator Ehsanullah Bayat, Member, Senator Hadayatullah Ahmadzai, Member. Engineer Shakatullah, Minister for SAFRON, Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmad, Foreign Secretary, Secretary Senate and other officials were present during the meeting.