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Posted Date: 19th July, 2012 Last updated at 00:00 PST

Pakistan and Afghanistan have renewed the commitment to work together towards an Afghan led‚ Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process.

This was stated in a joint statement issued in Kabul on Thursday at the end of the visit of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

Both the sides stressed on the need to work together in various fields of security‚ development‚ transit‚ trade‚ economic and investment linkages‚ mining‚ infrastructure and energy connectivity and people to people contacts.

The statement said the two sides recommitted to their shared vision to advance regional peace and stability. They reaffirmed strong commitment to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

President Karzai assured Prime Minister Ashraf of his Government's continued cooperation in a broad range of areas.

They shared the view that the expressed desire and determination of the Afghan people to put an end to violence and bring lasting peace to their country‚ as affirmed in the Peace Jirga of July 2010 and the Traditional Loya Jirga of November 2011‚ must be complemented by result-oriented regional and international cooperation. In this context‚ both sides expressed the hope that Pakistan's support to the Afghan peace process would contribute to durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Afghan side welcomed and expressed appreciation for the steps being taken by Pakistan in support of the Afghan peace process‚ including the public call on the Afghan armed opposition groups to participate in the reconciliation process to achieve long-term peace‚ stability and progress in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani side reaffirmed its support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace process‚ and underlined its determination to redouble efforts in facilitating direct intra-Afghan contacts and negotiations. The two leaders committed to implement additional concrete steps to advance Afghan peace and reconciliation. Both sides agreed to facilitate a conducive environment for the peace and reconciliation process to move forward.

The two leaders also recognized the importance of pursuing multiple channels of communication and contact with the Afghan Taliban and other armed opposition groups. In this context‚ they emphasized international support for the Afghan peace process and‚ in particular‚ welcomed the efforts of Saudi Arabia‚ Turkey and other countries.

Joint statement said to ensure the timely follow up of the efforts in support of the Afghan peace process‚ the two sides highlighted the role of Afghanistan's High Peace Council and looked forward to a successful visit to Islamabad by the Chairman of the High Peace Council. Both sides also agreed to resume regular meetings of the two-tier Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Commission.

With a view to advancing regional cooperation in all its dimensions‚ the two leaders recognized the importance of regional organisations and fora‚ including the various trilateral and quadrilateral processes involving Afghanistan‚ Pakistan and other countries. In particular‚ the two sides welcomed the progress on regional confidence-building through the Istanbul Process and emphasized that enhanced cooperation between Afghanistan and its near and extended neighbors on issues such as narcotics‚ regional trade and connectivity will create an environment for long-term stability and prosperity. The two leaders looked forward to the upcoming meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Russia-Tajikistan Quadrilateral Summit in Islamabad later this year.

Highlighting the many complementarities of the two countries in promoting economic development and integration between them and with the wider region‚ the two sides reaffirmed to broaden their cooperation in the economic sphere‚ including the full implementation of all bilateral agreements‚ such as the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) and the creation of Special Economic and Industrial Zones. The two sides agreed to extend APTTA as a first step to Tajikistan as part of the overall effort to promote regional economic cooperation. Both sides also emphasized the importance of early finalization of the process for establishment of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project‚ the speedy implementation of the CASA-1000 power transmission line‚ and enhancing connectivity and upgrading rail and road infrastructure between the two countries.

The Afghan side expressed its gratitude to Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for the past three decades. Both sides expressed support for the creation of conditions conducive to the voluntary and safe return of refugees.