The PAJC groups welcomed:
- The successful visit of President Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan where the Afghan President and Prime Minister Imran Khan agreed to develop a joint mechanism for three tiered task forces: leadership, ministerial and technical
- The on-going US-Taliban peace process with the hope that it will finally bring peace and prosperity not only for Afghanistan but for the region
- The support of all international stakeholders
- Positive statements by Pakistan government particularly the Prime Minister in support of an Afghan led and Afghan owned peace process
- Opening of Torkham Border on a twenty four hour basis by Pakistan which Afghanistan side is expected to reciprocate
The PAJC groups urge the two governments:
- Effective follow-up and implementation of the three tier task force announcement
- An early finalization of the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) as discussed during President Ghani’s visit
- To consider increasing trade through a bilateral agreement between the two countries
- To further ease the visa regime for nationals of both countries
- Restart the “Dosti Bus” service from Kabul to Peshawar for which technical feasibility is already initiated
- To encourage media to reflect positive developments in relations between the two countries and to dispel misperceptions that exist in the public mind