Sharif 'pleased' with 'upward trajectory' of Pak-Afghan ties

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he is pleased with the 'upward trajectory' of his country's relation with Afghanistan, shortly after meeting President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Russia.

The meeting took place just days after the Islamic Republic brokered peace talks between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban in Islamabad, reported the Dawn.

Both Ghani and Sharif expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the July 7 reconciliatory talks and exchanged views on how to carry forward the peace process. They also shared views on the efforts taken by the respective sides to counter terrorism.

While Ghani appreciated Pakistan's attempts and role in facilitating peace in Afghanistan, Sharif stressed on the need for both the countries to persevere to overcome challenges and build a cooperative relationship on 'strong foundations'.

The Pakistani premier asserted his desire to build a positive and forward-looking relationship with Afghanistan.

He also invited Ghani to jointly inaugurate the ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia process to be hosted by Pakistan in December 2015.