The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to attend the fifth ‘Heart of Asia ─ Istanbul process’ ministerial conference, this is currently being held in Pakistan.
The Afghan president was received by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Nur Khan air base and presented a guard of honour and given a 21 gun salute. National anthems of both countries were played.
Army chief General Raheel Sharif was among the high-level civil, military officials present at the reception. Further, Chief of Air Staff Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, National Security Adviser Lt Gen Nasser Janjua, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi were also present.
While extending his gratitude to PM Nawaz and the people of Pakistan, Ashraf Ghani said it is “important to name all the problems the region is facing, in terms of terrorism and corruption.”
“Our children have been murdered while playing in fields, our women have been murdered while going shopping or to schools, our hospitals and mosques have bee attacked, and terrorism has now become a regional, national and global phenomenon,” he said.
“Despite these viscous attacks, our will is strong and our security fores will do everything to deal with terrorism.”
Further, Ghani questioned the nature of terrorism while urging for a long-term solution to eradicating terrorism. “What is the nature of the Taliban and how so we deal with it?” he questioned, adding that “it is problem which requires us to work on it systematically.”
The Afghan president extended his gratitude to US President Obama, European leaders and other governments who have supported Afghanistan’s mission and supported its security forces.
“On behalf of my people I thank you all,” he said.
Welcoming the Afghan president, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in his opening remarks assured the people of Afghanistan that “any enemy of Afghanistan is an enemy of Pakistan.”
“Terrorists like Da’ish should strengthen our resolve against terrorism,” the premier said, adding that all efforts are underway to eradicate terrorism from the region.”
“There must be collective and coordinated measures to ensure that the struggle against terrorism are irreversible,” he asserted.
The premier further urged that the ‘Heart of Asia’ initiative should be held with high importance as it creates a “forum for sustainable peace for the region and beyond.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Ashraf Ghani stand for the National Anthem
Opening the ceremony of the conference this morning, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai emphasised on regional cooperation for defeating terrorism.
“With defeating terrorism being a priority, regional cooperation will play an effective role,” Aziz said.
