Pakistan ready to train Afghan army, police: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday said Pakistan and Afghanistan have come alive to the realization that the two countries are inevitable for each other.

Addressing a joint press conference here after holding bilateral talks at Foreign Office, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Bulgarian counterpart Nickolay Evtimov Mladenov said Pakistan and Bulgaria decided to expand and strengthen their bilateral relations in various fields including defence, economy, trade and culture.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said both the countries have decided to expand political consultations and their next round will be held this year.

Qureshi said both the countries would sign an agreement Thursday to promote economic ties and expand bilateral trade and investment. He said both the countries have also decided to establish linkages between their universities.

The FM said Pakistan is geared up to train Afghan National Army and police, as the relations between the two countries improved during the last some years.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov giving details of the talks said that his country appreciates Pakistan role in the fight against terrorism.

He said Bulgaria has rich experience in generating coal energy and can share its experience with Pakistan to overcome energy crisis.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister said his country fully supports Pakistan in European Union to get trade concessions and improve its economy.

Replying to a question both the Foreign Ministers said that Pakistan and Bulgaria are supportive of reconciliation process in Afghanistan to bring normalcy there but it should be led by the Afghans themselves.

Answering a question Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: "Pakistan and Afghanistan are developing their relations at all levels and there is a qualitative change at military and political levels during the past few years."

Responding a question regarding resumption of Pak-India dialogue, Qureshi said, "Pakistan wants to have productive and constructive dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir."

He said there is growing realization in India that Kashmir movement is indigenous and it should be resolved through political ways.

Replying to a question, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said the international community must take collective stand against radicalism and there should be religious harmony all over the world to fight these elements.