Pakistani, Afghan MPs for across-the-board visa-free travel

Parliamentarians from Afghanistan and Pakistan on Wednesday concluded two days dialogue in Islamabad and stressed the need to promote an across-the-board visa-free travel between the two countries.

This can begin by allowing visa-free travel for diplomats and business persons and to gradually move forward to apply across to all citizens in two countries, said a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the dialogue.

They called on their government to continue and accelerate joint efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

The MPs adopted Islamabad Declarations, agreeing that supremacy or leadership role of any third country in the region is not needed presently or after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

“Parliamentarians agreed that prospects of exit of US/NATO combat troops from Afghanistan pose both opportunities and challenges for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The two countries need to work together to convert challenges into opportunities,” the declaration said.

The MPs highlighted that terrorism poses the greatest challenge to both countries and their mutual relationship and both countries must work together to thwart and uproot the “common enemy.”

“Anyone in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, who is responsible for a terrorist incident in Afghanistan and Pakistan must be stopped by the Afghan and Pakistan Governments respectively”.

An eighteen-member Afghan parliamentary delegation took part in the dialogue which held at a time when relations between the two uneasy neighbours are tense following the last week assassination attempt on the Afghan spy chief, Asadullah Khalid.

President Karzai had claimed that the bomber had come from Pakistan. Islamabad had angrily reacted to Karzai’s remarks and questioned the security lapse of the Afghan authorities.

The MPs stressed that difficulties and trust-deficit in the relationship must be overcome through mutual dialogue. They underscored that stability in Pakistan is in the interest of Afghanistan while stability in Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan. They agreed that the two countries must emphasise on finding political solutions to the issues at hand.

The Parliamentarians also welcomed the recent sharing of draft between the two countries on the proposed Strategic Partnership Agreement and asked for its early finalisation and signing, the declaration said.

Parliamentarians also welcomed the agreement between the two countries to set-up and operationalise a joint Commission on Prisoners. They stressed, once again, that the two countries should sign a treaty of extradition of criminals on both sides.

They asked the two Governments to provide special protection to trade and businesspersons of the two countries.

The MPs agreed that a free and fair electoral process in each country has the greatest potential to include various players in each country into the affairs of the state. They also demanded that tourism needs to be promoted between the two countries.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 12 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.