Pak-Afghan officials urge relations between both countries be normalised

KABUL: Resumption of trade dialogue, visa facilitations, exchange programmes and people to people contact should be carried out to normalise the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This was decided during a dialogue held in the Afghan capital.

The Track-II/1.5 Beyond Boundaries dialogue was organised by the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and its Afghan counterpart, Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP).

A joint declaration of policy recommendations issued at the end of the three-day interaction welcomed the recent exchange of visits between Kabul and Islamabad, particularly consultations between directors general of military operations (DGMOs). They hoped the current restraint on both sides augurs well for bilateral relations.

The first meeting of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC) of CRSS and OESP welcomed the recent proposals shared between Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially the start of the process of various working groups to address issues affecting their bilateral relations.

In addition, PAJC held detailed discussions on the current status of bilateral relations, including issues of peace and security, refugees, media cooperation, movement of goods and people across the two countries, facilitation of trade, visa restrictions and academic scholarships in particular.

The joint committee strongly called on both the governments to convene meeting of the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Coordinating Authority (APTTCA) as soon as possible to address pending transit trade issues. It was pointed out by several participants that Afghanistan has not called the meeting for 18 months despite Pakistan’s repeated requests.

The participants called for immediate resumption of bilateral trade talks, including recently imposed regulatory taxes on Afghan exports to Pakistan.

The PAJC pressed Pakistan to expedite and facilitate implementation of the scholarship programs for Afghan students. The Track-II recommendations requested the Afghan government to facilitate completion of Pakistan-funded projects in Afghanistan and provide all the necessary support, including timely tax waivers by the Afghan government for equipment being imported for these projects.

The recommendations pushed both the governments to revisit the visa regime and facilitate and improve visa-related issues from application submission to the issuance of the visa itself. According to participants of the dialogue, both the countries should also introduce special visa regime for businesspersons, parliamentarians, media representatives, patients and attendants.

In order to improve bilateral relations, it was recommended youth exchange programmes be arranged.

Journalists’ short exchange programmes must also be organised for better understanding of each other’s perspective, the declaration said.

Moreover, cultural programmes may also be organised to encourage participation of prominent singers.

It was announced in the meeting that the Forum for International Relations Development, a UK-based conflict resolution think tank, will offer scholarships for tuition fees only to five Pakistani and as many Afghan students for undergraduate and postgraduate British qualifications through School of Economics and Law (SOEL), UK.

Member of Pakistani delegation also held meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah who ensured help for early completion of Pakistan’s development project in Afghanistan. While talking to the delegation, the Afghan CEO said true fight against terrorism can pave the way for trust between the two countries. He added Afghanistan always underscored the need for improved relations among the neighbouring countries, which should be based on mutual respect and sincere cooperation.

The delegation from Pakistan was led by parliamentary finance secretary Rana Afzal, MNA Shazia Murree, senators Shibli Faraz, Murtaza Wahab, former IGP Dr Shoaib Suddle, former defense secretary Lieutenant General (retd) Asif Yaseen Malik and former ambassadors Qazi Humayun, Mian Sanauallah, Seema Ilahi Baloch and Zahid Hussain. The Afghan delegation was led by former deputy minister Muzamil Shinwari, members of the parliament and political representatives of the chamber of commerce.