Karzai Arrives in Pakistan today, Bosnian President due tomorrow
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan President Hamid Karzai will arrive here today, Monday on a two day official visit to discuss bilateral and economic ties besides holding talks on increasing cooperation in the war on terror.

The Afghan President is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of President General Pervez Musharraf, said a foreign office statement, issued here Sunday.

The visit takes place as part of the on-going high level consultations between the two countries. The Afghan President earlier visited Pakistan in February 2002 and April 2003.

Engagements

Important engagements of President Karzai in Islamabad would include talks with the President General Pervez Musharraf and a joint press conference.

The President will host a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary. President Karzai will also hold talks with the Prime Minister who will host a luncheon for him.

Pak-Afghan Ties

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are rooted in strong bonds of a common religion, shared history and geography.

The two countries are cooperating in the struggle against terrorism, and have been actively working for promoting peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan fully supports the Bonn Process and the endeavours of President Karzai for national reconciliation, reconstruction and development.

Pakistan has welcomed holding of Presidential elections on October 9, 2004 and Parliamentary elections in April next year.

It is extending all necessary assistance to the United Nations for the registration of the Afghan refugees for out-of-country Presidential elections.

Pakistan's Assistance

Pakistan has been participating in reconstruction of Afghanistan. It has undertaken projects in the health and education, transport and services sectors as well as infrastructure development. Pakistan has allocated US$ 100 million for that purpose.

Pak-Afghan trade has grown significantly in recent years and it is well set to cross the US$ 1 billion mark in the next few years. A number of steps including streamlining trade facilities for Afghanistan and establishment of a third border crossing at Ghulam Khan have been taken to boost the trade.

The Joint Economic Commission, headed by Finance Ministers, keeps bilateral trade and economic cooperation under constant review.

Bosnian President Due Tomorrow

President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sulejman Tihic will arrive here on Tuesday on a four-day official visit to discuss bilateral relations besides holding talks on a wide range of regional as well as global issues.

Sulejman Tihic will be the first ever Head of State from Bosnia and Herzegovina to visit Pakistan. The President will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and other senior officials, including representatives of Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.

The Objectives

A Foreign Office communique said on Sunday that the purpose of the visit is to review bilateral relations and exchange views on a wide range of regional as well as global issues.

During the visit, President Musharraf will exchange views with Sulejman Tihic on bilateral relations and other issues, including resumption of Pakistan-India dialogue, reconstruction in Afghanistan, situation in Iraq and revitalisation of the OIC.

President Tihic would meet with Prime Minister-designate Shaukat Aziz, Chairman Senate Muhammadmian Soomro and Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri. The president of Bosnia and Herzegovina will address a gathering of Pakistan investors and business community to identify bilateral trade relations and to generate flow of investment in both the countries.

During the visit, an MoU on Bilateral Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina would be signed.●