ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called for increased people to people contact and exchanges of parliamentary delegations to strengthen the foundation of cordial and fraternal neighbourly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Prime Minister was talking to Mohammad Younus Qanooni, Speaker of Wolesi Jirga (National Assembly of Afghanistan), who along with a delegation of five other Afghan parliamentarians called on him in his National Assembly Chamber on Friday morning. He noted with satisfaction that the parliamentary friendship groups had been formed on both the sides to undertake initiatives for concrete cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted the fact that the parliamentary friendship group formed in Pakistan was headed by Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza herself, which was reflective of the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with Afghanistan. The Prime Minister said that his democratic government had brought about a fundamental transformation in Pakistans relations with Afghanistan. He, after taking over as the Prime Minister, had himself taken the initiative of approaching the Afghan President to put the relationship firmly back on track. He said that his government strongly believed in neutrality and non-interference in Afghanistans domestic affairs. He added Pakistan, hence, would like an indigenous Afghanistans owned process of reconciliation and integration. He hoped that Afghan Governments own efforts would incrementally lead to inclusion of reconcilable elements among militants, in the mainstream of Afghanistans political life. The Prime Minister assured the Afghan delegation that Pakistan would continue to contribute towards human resource and infrastructure development of their country. He informed them that on expiry of deadline for sending back more than three million Afghan refugees to their homeland, he had allowed them to stay on until the peace and stability returned to their country. He noted that, at present, more than 400,000 children of Afghan refugees were studying in Pakistani schools, 28,000 Afghan students had graduated from Pakistans universities and around 6000 Afghan students were currently enrolled with Pakistans colleges and institutions of higher learning. He had also doubled the number of scholarships for Afghan students. Besides, Pakistan despite its own economic constraints was undertaking some major infrastructure development projects in Afghanistan.