MPs stress need for effective steps for peace

ISLAMABAD (PAN): Afghan and Pakistani Parliamentarians on Wednesday agreed on taking steps for promoting people-to-people contacts between the neighbours.

Concluding the 9th round of dialogue in Islamabad, the MPs called mutual contacts important for creating an enabling atmosphere for better cooperation between the two countries.

Proposed interaction between the people from both sides should include all segments of society, youth, businessmen, media representatives, culturists and professional groups, they said.

During the two day dialogue, the Pakistani side was led by Senator Afrasiab Khattak of the Awami National Party while Afghan parliamentary team was headed by Senator Syed Farrukh Shah Faryabi.

The participants hoped next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections in Afghanistan would lead to strengthening democracy. The processes of peace and democracy were interlinked, they observed.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers said parliaments should oversee the implementation of their respective governments’ policies for cementing of bilateral relations.

The legislators expressed sorrows over the loss of life in the recent terrorist attack on a Peshawar Church, saying such despicable acts exposed the brutal nature of terrorists active in both countries.

Stressing more cooperation in thwarting the nefarious designs of terrorist groups, they alleged innocent citizens were being attacked on both sides of the border to create misunderstandings between the neighbours.

“Experience has proved that the challenge of terrorism can only be met through honest cooperation between the security institutions of the two countries,” the parliamentarians remarked.

Government officials in charge of security on both sides must play their role in a manner that prevented the loss of life, they stressed.

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