I wish to, first of all, thank President Hamid Karzai for his gracious invitation and hospitality extended to me and members of my entourage.

I am indeed delighted to be in Kabul, once again, in just four months.

This indeed, in itself, attests to the importance that we attach to consultations with our brothers in Afghanistan.

I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.

I bring to them warm fraternal greetings of the people of Pakistan.

I am here to convey our respect and admiration for the great Afghan Nation and to renew our deep-rooted bonds of fraternal solidarity.

In my conversation with President Karzai today, I have said that friendship with Afghanistan is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. In fact, this friendship is age old, timeless and abiding.

Of course, we are connected by geography, shared faith, culture and traditions. But it is more than that.

Friendship with Afghanistan is in our blood.

A sense of shared destiny beckons us to join hands in not only overcoming the immediate issues that torment our two peoples equally but also in forging and marching “instep” towards realizing a glorious future for our peoples and for the region as a whole.

Restoration of stability and peace in Afghanistan is essential for peace, security and well-being of the people of Pakistan. It has become imperative that we join our efforts and take ownership of our affairs so that we can overcome the pressing challenges.

We believe that given the enormous resources – both human and natural – of our two countries, our collective economic potential is phenomenal.

We have, today, agreed to give high priority and to work together the development track. This means optimally utilizing our natural economic complementarities and that of the region as a whole, for socio-economic development and prosperity.

Several important mega projects, including trans-regional projects, such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline; building of electricity transmission lines; enhancing physical connectivity by building or upgrading requisite infrastructure, including road and rail transportation and communication links as well as expediting the implementation mechanisms for the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement etc. need to be fast-tracked.

It is Pakistan’s considered view that it is only by working a social and economic transformation that our peoples will be able to realize the legitimate aspirations for stability, peace and prosperity.

With President Karzai, I had indepth consultations on the situation prevailing in the region and the various initiatives that are being talked about for promoting reconciliation and peace.

I found these consultations extremely useful. We have agreed to deepen our consultations and continue to cooperate and coordinate on all issues.

I would like to applaud the efforts of our Afghan brothers and sisters across length and breadth of Afghanistan to realize their legitimate aspirations for peace and stability.

I would like, in particular, to commend the efforts of President Hamid Karzai, for launching the process for national reconciliation. In this context, establishment of the High Peace Council under the chairmanship of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani is an important step.

In consultations with President Karzai, Chairman Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and members of the High Peace Council, both sides have agreed to establish the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Commission for facilitating and promoting reconciliation and peace.

This Mechanism has two tiers: first, the High-Level that is steered by the Chief Executives and Foreign Ministers of the two countries, with participation of the Chiefs of the Military and Intelligence Services of the two countries; the second tier is that of the Senior Officials, comprising the Foreign Ministries, Military and Intelligence Services.

Establishment of this Joint Mechanism is not only illustrative of our resolve to work together but also an expression of unstinted solidarity.

I have assured President Karzai that Pakistan strongly supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process for reconciliation and peace.

For the process to be sustainable and durable, it must be inclusive and have the complete ownership of the Afghan Nation. Pakistan is ready to provide such assistance and facilitation, as may be required by Afghanistan.

President Karzai and I agreed that there is no military solution to the problem.

The drone attacks are counter-productive. Loss of precious human lives cannot be just dismissed as “collateral damage”. Similarly, suicide attacks, resulting in loss of innocent lives as well as attacks on places of worship, are not only inhuman and barbaric but are evidently designed to denigrate Islam and to sow discord among Muslims, communities and societies. One wrong cannot be rectified by another wrong.

The people of Afghanistan and Pakistan have introspected deeply and can discern friends from foes. President Karzai and I have agreed that we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our respective national interests and the collective interests of our two great Nations are fully safeguarded.

Together, we will, Insha Allah, write a new chapter of progress, prosperity, stability and peace in our region.

I and President Zardari look forward to welcome President Karzai in Islamabad.