PR. No.075/2008

Date: 01/04/2008

AFGHAN FORIEGN MINISTER CALLS FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan , Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta telephoned Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi to congratulate him on assumption of the office as Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The Afghan Foreign Minister reaffirmed the desire of the Afghan government to continue close cooperation with Pakistan .

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that close relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is important for maintaining regional peace and stability. He said terrorism threatens both Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is important for both countries to closely cooperate in war against terror.

The Foreign Minister said the Government of Pakistan was committed to the Jirga process initiated between Pakistan and Afghanistan in August last year. The Foreign Minister also said that Pakistan encourages people to people contact between the two countries. Pakistan is also looking forward to hosting third Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) on April 24-25, 2008.

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan invited his Afghan counterpart to visit Pakistan on mutually convenient dates.

Islamabad

01 April 2008