New Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral engagement framework operational

The Afghan and Pakistani officials have agreed to take practical steps regarding the start of the operations of the six working groups upon which President Ghani and Prime Minister Abbasi had reached to an agreement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan in a statement said “The 4thmeeting of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) was held in Islamabad today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The delegations were led by Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua.”

The statement further adds that “In pursuance of the seven principles agreed in the meeting between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during his visit to Kabul on 6 April 2018, the two sides finalized the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). This operationalizes the six working groups envisaged under APAPPS.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, APAPPS provides a framework to strengthen mutual trust and deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagements. It is also a mechanism for finding solutions to bilateral areas of concern.

Both sides agreed that effective and full implementation of APAPPS would contribute towards the common objectives of eliminating terrorism and achieving peace, stability, prosperity and development of the peoples of the two countries, the statement added.