Army chief meets Afghan president in Kabul visit

RAWAPINDI (92 News) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, during his Kabul visit. In a press statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the visit was followed by delegation level discussions, after which the army chief returned to Pakistan. ISPR also said that the army chief also had exclusive one on one meetings with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Commander Resolute Support Mission (RSM) General John Nicholson, said the press release. During the visit, the army chief had exclusive one on one meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani followed by delegations level discussions. Gen Bajwa congratulated the Afghanistan authorities on recent peace initiatives especially in respect of the holy month of Ramadan/ Eid. The army chief also wished that these steps gain more of permanence ultimately leading towards an enduring peace. The discussions encompassed wide range of issues especially the ongoing efforts for reconciliation in Afghanistan. In the discussion, the measures needed to check rise of ISIS and the issue of terrorists taking benefit of the porous border to indulge in terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking, being often networked together. COAS reiterated that it is the regions and not countries that develop for which peace and development remain quintessential. He further said that having attained relative peace and stability inside Pakistan, efforts are now focused towards socio-economic development as a route towards enduring peace and stability. Gen Bajwa said that recently agreed Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS) is expected to bring more cooperation and coordination between the two countries. Referring to border fencing, He said that this is an obstacle for checking terrorism and not between people of both the sides. The Afghanistan president thanked Gen Bajwa for his visit and recent security initiatives undertaken for peace and stability. The president shared contours of his vision about regional development, efforts to extend ongoing temporary ceasefire and steps related to creating conditions for reconciliation. The chief executive also thanked the army chief for his visit and APAPPS initiative. Both the sides agreed that while results of the bilateral initiatives are extremely important but even more important is the continuity of the processes to achieve the end state objectives. Talking to Commander RSM, the army chief said that Pakistan desires that US/ NATO Forces must succeed and leave behind a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. Earlier, upon arrival at the presidential palace, COAS was presented guard of honour. The foreign secretary, the DG ISI, Pakistan’s ambassador in Afghanistan and other senior officials accompanied the COAS while Afghan NSA and senior ministers including NDS joined Afghan delegation.