ISLAMABAD - In a bid to enhance Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations, a group of parliamentarians of Pakistan left for Afghanistan on Monday.
The group comprises members of Upper and Lower House of Parliament and is led by MNA Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Senator Afrasiab. The group will represent Pakistan at a two-day dialogue with their Afghan counterparts.
As part of its Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentarians’ Exchange, the dialogue will be held from December 17 to December 18 in Kabul.
The delegation includes MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah, MNA Bismillah Khan, MNA Ghazi Gulab Jamal, MNA Malik Itebar Khan, MNA Mussarat Ahmedzeb, Senator Zafar Ali Shah and Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash. Special invitees accompanying the delegation included Faisal Karim Kundi, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Senator Dr Mohammad Jahangir Badar and Senator Mohammad Daud Khan Achakzai. Rahim Shah, Assistant Director National Assembly Secretariat, is accompanying the delegation as an observer. Members of NGOs, Aasiya Riaz, Aimen Khan, Abid Khan and Hamid Ali are also accompanying the delegation.
It is worthy to mention here that Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to hold series of seminars and workshops in their respective jurisdictions. Since 2008, both countries have initiated a dialogue series between Parliamentarians of Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to facilitate Parliamentary diplomacy to improve relations between the two countries. To date 10 dialogues between Pak-Afghan MPs have been facilitated by a Pakistani NGO that periodically takes place in the capitals of the two countries.
Our staff reporter from Peshawar adds: A six-member delegation of Senate headed by Pak-Afghan Friendship Group President Senator Afrasyab Khattak left for Kabul to discuss regional situation in the context of withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan.
The delegation in its two days visit would meet Afghan parliamentarians and top government officials to discuss various core issues as well as the relations between the two neighbouring countries Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The delegation would also ponder over the regional situation in the context of possible US withdrawal from Afghanistan in the end of 2014, peace, and other issues pertaining to both the countries, a press released issued from Bacha Khan Markaz said here on Monday.