Pakistan reaffirms support to Afghan peace process

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday assured visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai of his country's support to the peace and reconciliation process in the war-torn Afghanistan.

Both the leaders held wide-ranging talks on the security and related issues of common interest and focused on the common challenges and the huge opportunities for both countries, Xinhua reported.

"I reaffirmed Pakistan's strong and sincere support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. We fully agreed that this process has to be inclusive, Afghan-owned and Afghan-led," Nawaz Sharif said.

"I assured president Karzai that Pakistan will continue to extend all possible facilitation to the international community's efforts for the realisation of this noble goal," the prime minister said.

Sharif also said Pakistan would help reinforce regional efforts in support of stabilisation of Afghanistan.

"We believe this is imperative for turning the tide of conflict and instability that has engulfed our region for decades. It is also indispensable for the realisation of our positive agenda of peace and development," Sharif said.

Pakistan and Afghanistan also signed an agreement to boost volume of trade and strengthen economic relationship.