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PR. No.272/2008

Date: 11/09/2008    

AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELEPHONES FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI

 Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta telephoned Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi this afternoon.  The Afghan Foreign Minister said President Karzai’s visit to Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Asif Ali Zardari was very productive. Exchange of views on import issues took place during this visit.

          Foreign Minister Spanta proposed re-engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan on all forums.  In response to this proposal following road map was agreed:

• The two Foreign Ministers will meet in New York on the sidelines of UN General Assembly later this month.
• The Mini-Jirga will be held immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr.  The lists of members of Mini-Jirga had already been exchanged.
• Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) will be held in Islamabad. Second half of November is being considered for holding of this Conference.
• Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission will meet in Kabul.  The Afghan Finance Minister will get in touch with his Pakistani counterpart to work out the dates for Joint Economic Commission’s meeting.
• Subsequent to their meeting on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, the two Foreign Ministers will meet in Islamabad on a mutually agreed date. The National Security Advisers of the two countries will also participate in this meeting. 

Islamabad
11 September 2008