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Ms. Roya Rahmani, Director General, Afghan Regional Cooperation Directorate, visited Pakistan on 29-30 April 2015. Among others, Ms. Rahmani called on the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and had meeting with Special Secretary, Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial. She was accompanied by the Ambassador of Afghanistan in Islamabad, Mr. Janan Mosazai and senior officials.

The discussions were focused on developing mutually agreed strategic focus of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process during Pakistan’s co-chairmanship in 2015. Ms. Rahmani briefed about the progress made in Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process since the last Ministerial Conference held in Beijing in October 2014. She stressed the need for initiative on part of co-chairs to carry forward the Process to next level. She also emphasized that building trust and confidence among regional partners was imperative for resolving the issues faced by the region. Pakistan side reaffirmed commitment at the leadership level for further improving excellent bilateral relations. After the visits of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Afghanistan and the President of Afghanistan to Pakistan in 2014, bilateral relations were on an upward trajectory. The conviction on part of Pakistan to closely coordinate with Afghanistan to lead the participating and supporting countries in achieving tangible results from the Process, was reiterated.

The two sides reached an agreement regarding Fifth Ministerial Conference to be held later this year in Islamabad. The theme of the conference will be ” Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process: Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Economic Connectivity.” The theme will guide the activities in the run up to the Ministerial Conference, including the first Senior Officials Meeting to be hosted by Pakistan at Islamabad on 25 May 2015.

Islamabad
30 April, 2015

142/2015
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