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Afghan Foreign Ministry urges Pakistan to change policy

Politics Materials 6 January 2009 19:33 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 6 / Trend , D. Khatinoglu/

Pakistan's government should pursue different policies to maintain stability in Afghanistan, Afghan Foreign Ministry official Sultan Ahmad Behin told Trend .

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari paid a visit to Afghanistan on Jan. 6. The aim of the visit is to discuss security issues between the two countries. Behin said the Afghan and Pakistani foreign ministers will sign a joint declaration during the visit. Strategic cooperation to combat terrorism and narcotics will also be discussed. Behin said both countries have expressed a willingness to cooperate in these spheres, but joint actions were not taken under former President Pervez Musharraf. Behin criticized the fact that the Pakistani government does not control the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or the country's army. He said these institutions must obey the government and refrain from taking any action against Afghanistan. Afghan officials have repeatedly accused ISI of helping the Taliban. Behin believes the intelligence services in both countries are preparing to exchange information. He voiced hope that the Pakistani intelligence agency would prove a loyal ally. Behin said bilateral economic agreements would be signed during the visit, specifically in the transport sector. An agreement on laying a railway line between the two countries would be also inked, he added.

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