President Karzai and Foreign Minister Spanta Meet with Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri traveled to Afghanistan on an official visit from December 7-8. Foreign Minister Kasuri met with both President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta to discuss strengthening regional economic cooperation, as well as enhancing bi-lateral security and counter-narcotics efforts. A major focus was the upcoming Loya Jirgas (tribal councils) intended to be held in Afghanistan and Pakistan. President Karzai proposed holding such jirgas during September’s trilateral meeting with U.S. President George Bush and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Tribal elders on each side will side will meet with the participation of both President Karzai and President Musharraf with the hopes of resolving the problems of regional extremism and terrorism through consultation and consensus.
"Based on the fact that both countries have different systems and mechanisms, both sides agreed on the common objectives to promoting peace, security and prosperity," read a joint statement from Foreign Ministers Spanta and Kasuri.
President Karzai and Foreign Minister Kasuri agreed that Afghanistan’s stability would remain a top priority for both countries. "In the same way that Afghans cannot imagine a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan without a peaceful and stable Pakistan, it is also impossible for Pakistan to have peace and stability without a peaceful and stable Afghanistan," said President Karzai.
