Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs,
Sartaj Aziz, has said that Islamabad is committed to continue working
with Kabul in pursuit of connectivity and energy projects linking
Pakistan with Central Asia.

This was stated by the adviser while
addressing a seminar on ‘Afghanistan Reconnected: Linking Energy
Supplier to Consumers in Asia’ organised by East West Institute here on
Tuesday.

“As a neighbouring and brotherly country, Afghanistan
is close to us. Strong bonds of a common history, religion and culture
reinforce our relations,” he added. Aziz said discussions are also
continuing on extending Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement
(APTTA) to Tajikistan by finalising the Tripartite Agreement under
consideration of the three sides.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
has clearly underlined the government’s priority in terms of addressing
our energy needs in the short and long-term. We are keen on working with
Afghanistan as a conduit for energy supply,” he said. Afghanistan has
been facing conflict and instability for more than three decades. As a
neighbouring country, Pakistan has consistently faced the fallout of
this situation, he added.

It goes without saying that a
peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s vital
national interest. “We remain committed to supporting efforts for peace
and reconciliation in Afghanistan in an inclusive, Afghan-owned and
Afghan-led process.”

As a nation, there are not many choices in
terms of neighbours. However, one can choose to have good-neighbourly
relations to harness the synergies for mutual benefit. It is in this
context, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has presented a vision of a
peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood, with stable and cooperative
relations with all our neighbours including Afghanistan. (The Nation)