As part of strategic sideline meetings with the government leaders to take them on board for the Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/11initiative “Beyond Boundaries” and share the policy recommendations generated from the PAJC bilateral dialogue, the Beyond Boundaries visiting six member high level Afghan delegation and some members of Pakistan delegation along with the CRSS team held a meeting with the Leader of the House in the Senate of Pakistan, Senator Shibli Faraz, at the Parliament House on Friday 13 March, 2020.
Senator Shibli Faraz warmly welcomed the delegation, fondly recalling that he had been part of the “Beyond Boundaries” (Phase 3) Pakistan delegation for the first meeting of PAJC groups held in Kabul from December 14 – 17, 2017. Therefore, he said he has his full support to the track II process and believes that such forums are important for people-to-people contacts and am very happy to receive the Afghan delegation.
Mozammil Shinwari, former Deputy Trade Minister and Head of OESP (Afghan counterpart organization told him: “we are thankful to Pakistan for their support in the peace process and we are hopeful that the bilateral mechanism of APAPPS will be re-initiated”.
Fawzia Koofi, former parliamentarian and head of the Afghan delegation said that when the APS attack happened in Peshawar, as a mother she felt the pain for the Pakistani children. We hope we can both work for a progressive Pakistan and Afghanistan with the same values, she added.
Saleem Khan Kunduz, former Governor Nangarhar stated that Pakistan and Afghanistan now after the peace process have strong relationship, we should work towards improving and strengthening it further in the next few months.
Palwasha Hassan, civil society leader stated that the people of the two countries have no issues, it is the politicians who should play their role now to improve relations. She further added that Pakistan should consolidate their efforts in the peace process, as the Afghans now want democracy, peace, and women rights. We need strong support from Pakistan politicians and government for sustaining democracy in Afghanistan.
Momina Yari, former Commissioner of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, remarked that may there be a day when we can go to each other’s without visa or passport like the EU and have a positive friendly relationship.
In his remarks, Senator Shibli told Afghan delegation that the real challenge for Afghans has started now, as first you were fighting an external enemy, now you have to sort out challenges amongst yourselves; that is the real challenge. The beginning of intra-Afghan dialogue, all leadership and segments of the society have to come together for peace and stability. Our Prime Minister is fully committed in sincerity, he has the urge to have a peaceful neighborhood. I can assure you as a representative of the Pakistan government and on behalf of Pakistan that we will fully support united, stable, peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Afghanistan.
At the end of the meeting the head of Afghan delegation, Ms. Fawzia Koofi, shared the joint declaration of policy recommendations from the PAJC bilateral dialogue/meeting held on 12 March.