Call made for Afghan peace
Pakistan, Jordan to expand trade
Frontier Post
 
AMMAN (APP) - Describing the talks between King Abdullah II and ChiefExecutive General Pervez Musharraf late Monday night as "highly satisfactory." Foreign Minster Abdul Sattar said here Tuesday the two sides had agreed to further expand investment.

Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf and Jordanian Prime Minster Ali Abu Ragheb held in-depth official talks here Tuesday, calling for practical measures to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two leaders, during the 45-minute talks, referred to the warmth of ties and identity of views existing between Islamabad and Amman and emphasized the need for expansion of bilateral cooperation.

The Jordanian prime minster stated that both the sides had expressed the resolve to expand relations in the fields of culture, economy, science and technology.

During the talks, Ragheb expressed the hope that the increased mutual cooperation will yield positive results and help resolve problems facing the two nations.

Reciprocating Ragheb's remarks, the chief executive said, Islamabad was appreciative of closeness of their existing ties and there was similarity of views on many regional and international issues.

"The two sides should identify areas of cooperation to put our ideas into practice for mutual benefit." Musharraf said the two countries have had detailed discussions at the ministerial level as well, and "we are coming closer to each other and I'm hopeful that we can make a lot of progress through substantial cooperation." The chief executive briefed the host leader about the Afghan crisis and stressed the need for restoration of peace in that country while keeping the ground realities in full view.

The international community, he said, must talk to the Taliban for peace in Afghanistan as they are a reality who control 95 per cent of the Afghan territory.

The Jordanian Prime Minster expressed an understanding of the views spelt out by the chief executive and said, the Organisation of Islamic Conference should make greater efforts for durable peace in Afghanistan.

Finance Minster Shaukat Aziz briefed the Jordanian leaders about the Government's policies to turn around the national economy through far-reaching measures.

Commerce Minster Abdul Razaak Dawood, informed the leaders about the prospects of joint Pakistan-Jordan projects, saying these would bring benefits to both countries.