In a letter to his Afghan counterpart, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar emphasised the importance of cooperating in order to achieve shared objectives.
The letter from PM Kakar to Mullah Muhammad Hasan Akhund, the acting prime minister of Afghanistan, comes as tensions between the two nations are rising as a result of an increase in cross-border terror incidents. As brothers and neighbours, Pakistan and Afghanistan have strong ties, Prime Minister Kakar wrote in his letter. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are based on shared history, culture, and religion.
The prime minister declared that Kabul and Islamabad would continue to work together to strengthen bilateral, political, security, and economic ties.
The interim Afghan administration was charged last week by Pakistan with abusing the transit trade arrangement.
“Our Customs officials must make sure that any border trade complies with the rules,”.
“It is important for our Customs authorities to ensure that any border trade that takes place complies with the understandings and agreements that exist between Pakistan and Afghanistan and that such commercial activities do not contravene Pakistani laws,” the Foreign Office said.
The FO added that the trade between both countries was on the rise, calling it an established fact. The statement said that the activity has grown because Pakistan facilitated trade with Afghanistan.
The comments came following the September 6 clash between the security forces of the two countries, which left a Frontier Corps soldier injured. This led to the closure of the Torkham border for over a week.
Diplomatic sources also revealed that the Afghan PM had written a congratulatory letter to Kakar on assuming the post of caretaker prime minister.
Read More:PM Kakar Departs for U.S. to Attend 78th UNGA Session
According to sources, PM Kakar thanked his Afghan counterpart for his congratulatory letter.
A day earlier, the caretaker PM said that Pakistan was playing its part for durable peace in Afghanistan and the region and was engaged with the Afghan Taliban and the international community at all the relevant forums.
He said that the Taliban had made a commitment under the Doha agreement that Afghan soil would not be used against any country for terrorism, adding that they were addressing Afghan transit issues including illegal trade.
The premier said trade ties were not only improving with Afghanistan but also with all the Central Asian Republics as they all realised the significance of regional trade connectivity.
Speaking about the terrorist attacks from Afghan soil, PM Kakar said Pakistan reserved the right to defend against any terrorist activity and would take necessary steps to defend its people and land whenever needed.
However, when the time arose, they would make appropriate decisions in this regard, he said.
