Ties with Afghanistan at best level: Pakistan minister

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan has hailed the improved level of bilateral ties with neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad and Kabul are in “close cooperation” in counter-terror efforts.

The minister made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of thee-day summit in Washington on way to counter the violence fueled by militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have never been better, and that is a very, very positive development,” Khan said. “I think Afghanistan and Pakistan, working in close hands and in close cooperation, it will do wonders for the cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.”

​

The remarks came just days after Pakistan’s army chief General Raheel Sharif held talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, where they praised the recently improved relations between both sides.

Last year, Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to promote security and trade ties between the two countries.

Taliban militancy 

Pakistan and Afghanistan have witnessed soured ties in recent years, with both sides accusing the other of failing to cooperate on the threat posed by Taliban and pro-Taliban militants in the region.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai often accused Pakistan of sheltering Taliban militants in its border region, and contributing to the war-torn country’s security problems.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. Although the offensive removed the Taliban from power, the country is still gripped by insecurity despite the presence of thousands of foreign forces.

SZH/MKA/HMV

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir