ISLAMABAD - Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry underlined greater Pak-Afghan political engagement, stronger focus on economic development and well-coordinated security cooperation for achieving shared goals of peace and prosperity in the two countries as well as in the wider region.
Foreign Secretary-level consultations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were held here on Tuesday.  Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry led the Pakistani delegation while the Afghan delegation was headed by Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai. The two sides reviewed all facets of Pak-Afghan bilateral relations and exchanged views on a broad range of issues of mutual interest, including peace and stability, counter-terrorism, border-security, trade and economic cooperation, Afghan refugees and regional cooperation, according to the Foreign Office.  Expressing satisfaction on the positive momentum of bilateral relations, the Foreign Secretary reiterated Pakistan's commitment to maintain this upward trajectory.
He said that recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Kabul had been vital to further cement the inextricable bonds between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both sides discussed Pakistan's contribution towards development of Afghanistan including through Pakistani funded projects for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's facilitative role in promoting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.  It was agreed that mutual trust and confidence between the two countries was leading towards better coordinated measures to root-out the menace of terrorism. Earlier, Karzai co-chaired, along with Chaudhry, the first Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on 25 May 2015.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hekmat Khalil Karzai called on Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and discussed issues in the context of bilateral relations and regional situation.
Welcoming Mr. Khalil, the Adviser reiterated Pakistan's commitment to build a forward-looking, comprehensive and enduring partnership with Afghanistan. He expressed satisfaction that Pak-Afghan bilateral relations were on an upward trajectory and the two sides were comprehensively upgrading cooperation in all fields. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's recent visit to Kabul would further deepen the cooperation between the two countries on a broad range of issues, including peace and stability, counter-terrorism, border-security, trade and economic cooperation, and regional cooperation.
They also underscored the importance of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, whose Ministerial Meeting, will be hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad, later this year. Mr. Khalil agreed with the imperative of working together with Pakistan for enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan. He expressed satisfaction on current phase of close cooperation between the two countries and lauded Pakistan's sincere efforts for development of Afghanistan.