On January 04, President Hamid Karzai met H.E. Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, at the Gul Khana Palace this morning, and held a joint press conference after the meeting.

During the meeting, President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz discussed the ongoing fight against terrorism, the Peace Jirga, Pakistan’s assistance to Afghanistan and other issues of mutual interest.

Addressing the press conference, President Hamid Karzai said, “I frankly discussed the Afghan people’s concerns about terrorist activities, the hampering of reconstruction work in Afghanistan, the burning of our schools, and the killing of our Ulema with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.”

“Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing a climate of mistrust and it further strains relations between the two countries. I clearly explained the factors causing such a climate of mistrust to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and notified him of the Afghan Government’s position on this.”

“The Afghan people want to maintain friendly relations with Pakistan, but terrorists, by burning our schools and killing our Ulema, are creating serious impediments to this desire.”

In response to a question about the mining and fencing of the border, the President said, “The mining of our border or barbed wires can not stop terrorism, but it only will separate families, tribes and clans. Afghanistan, as a war-stricken country, has been the victim of mines and unexploded ordnances in the past three decades. Mines have disabled hundreds of thousands of Afghans, and we are against the mining of our border on humanitarian grounds.

“I believe the best way to eliminate terrorism is to focus our attention on its recruiting, funding and training sources.”

Speaking about the Regional Peace and Prosperity Jirga, the President said, “Afghanistan wants to have friendly relations with Pakistan. Therefore, we proposed the holding of Regional Peace and Prosperity Jirga between Afghanistan and Pakistan so that the peoples of both countries can get together and listen to the realities.”

In response to another question about the outcome of today’s talks, the President said, “If the burning of our schools, the explosion of bombs, and the killing of the Afghan people stop, it means that the outcome of our talks have been positive.”

Addressing the press conference, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, “Pakistan is committed to the region’s peace and prosperity, and believes that the two countries must work together to overcome the current challenges, and to maintain mutual contacts so that the existing misunderstanding will be removed.”

“Pakistan will assign a commission to work with the Afghan Regional Peace and Prosperity Jirga Preparation Commission on the modalities and preparation for the Jirga.”

“Pakistan will increase its assistance to Afghanistan from US$ 250 million to US$ 300 million. Pakistan will closely collaborate with Afghanistan in the fight against narcotics.”

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz informed the media about the construction of a railway between Chaman and Spinboldak.

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to work together on the resettlement and repatriation of three million Afghan refugees to Afghanistan.