Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Lahore

LAHORE: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Lahore from Islamabad on Friday as part of his two-day visit to the country.

The Afghan president was received by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bardar upon his arrival at the Lahore Airport. On his arrival, children presented bouquets to the Afghan president.

President Ghani also held a one-on-one meeting with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar. The Afghan president will also hold a meeting with CM Buzdar.

Matters of mutual interest and cooperation for the promotion of peace were discussed during the meeting. He later offered Friday prayers at the Governor House.

 

The Afghan president also visited the Badshahi Mosque and Shahi Qila. 

A day earlier, the Afghan president arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

President Ghani held delegation-level talks with PM Imran in a meeting that Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also attended.

He also met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and said he appreciated Pakistan's efforts for the peace process in the country.

Qureshi, during the meeting, said Pakistan will continue to play its role for peace in Afghanistan with sincerity, good intentions, and an open heart.

 

The Afghan president also met Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in separate meetings.

A statement issued by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) about the meeting said the visiting dignitary expressed his condolences on the death of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and wished Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, well.

Ghani praised the role of Nawaz for regional peace and said he maintained a cordial relation with Shehbaz Sharif since his first meeting with him in 1980, the statement said.

Meanwhile, according to a statement released by the PPP, Ghani and Bilawal discussed issues of mutual interests. Bilawal expressed his wishes for the Afghan peace process.