Afghanistan ready for comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met his Turkish counterpart Recap Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of an OIC summit in Kazakhstan as he reaffirmed his stance that Kabul was ready for comprehensive talks with Islamabad.

Ghani's office said on Monday that the two sides discussed various topics, including bilateral ties between Kabul and Ankara and the upheavals in Kabul-Islamabad ties.

President Erdogan said the Turkish government was prepared to play its role in improving relations between Kabul and Islamabad as he reaffirmed Ankara's support towards an Afghan-led peace process.

Ghani thanked his Turkish counterpart for reaffirming support to Afghanistan and insisted on further strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations.

He added that the announcement of the new US strategy has opened new doors of opportunities and necessary steps should be taken regionally for the proper use of the provided opportunity.

He said Afghanistan wants good relations with its neighbours and the country is prepared for comprehensive talks with Islamabad, insisting that the current situation should change in the region and opportunities should be properly utilised.

The Afghan President also called terrorism as a menace threatening both the region and the world and emphasised on joint efforts for its eradication.

--IANS

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