KABUL - Pakistan prime minister’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz has said Islamabad and Kabul should work closely to deal with common challenges and pursue the welfare and progress of their people, a foreign office statement said on Tuesday.
Aziz expressed the view during a meeting with 14-member delegation of the Afghan media presently visiting Pakistan.
Taking to the delegation he said relations between the two brotherly countries were rooted in common history, religion, culture and people to people ties. He added that like their past, Afghanistan and Pakistan also shared their destiny. It was, therefore, important that the two countries closely work together for dealing with the common challenges and pursue the welfare and progress of the people. 
He described terrorism as the common enemy urging close cooperation and meaningful engagement between the two governments in the areas of security, counter-terrorism and border management for preventing cross border movement of terrorist groups.
Reiterating Pakistan’s desire for lasting peace in Afghanistan, Adviser Sartaj Aziz said that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and the focus should be on political settlement through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process.
In this regard, he highlighted serious efforts made by Pakistan for peace talks between Afghan government and Taliban adding that cooperation between the two countries was important for promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The members of the Afghan media delegation had frank and candid conversation on the efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan and strengthening of bilateral engagement. The delegation is undertaking a visit to Pakistan from 2-8 April 2017 for interaction with government, parliamentary and civil society institutions. (Pajhwok)