President Ashraf Ghani is expected to discuss four key issues with the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan during his upcoming trip to Islamabad which will take place on June 27, presidential spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said on Tuesday as critics continue to blast the president over the planned trip to the neighboring nation.
Security, peace talks with the Taliban, regional connectivity, trade ties and investment wil dominate agenda during the meeting with the Pakistani leadership, said Chakhansuri.
The Afghan government has said that the trip will also help to find out that how Pakistan can contribute in the Afghan peace process.
According to the Afghan government, Ghani accepted the invitation by the Pakistani leader on the recommendation of members of the peace consultative Loya Jirga which was held in April.
Ghani prepares for a trip to Pakistan at a time that the role of Pakistan in the crisis in Afghanistan has been undermining bilateral relations between the two neighbors.
“The president should convince Pakistan to work with interest towards intra-Afghan talks,” said MP Habiburrahman Pedram.
“There is no doubt about it that Pakistan has interfered in Afghanistan over the past 40 years, but it clearly committed aggression that needs to be stopped now. Stability will be ensures in Afghanistan once this aggression is ended,” said university lecturer Nasrullah Stanekzai.
“Our argument is that the issue of elections will be discussed during these tours and there is a mechanism to prevent it,” said Assadullah Saadati, second running mate to Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in the upcoming presidential elections.
The visit marks Ghani’s second state visit to Islamabad since 2014.
