Karzai: Afghan peace good for Pakistan

Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Islamabad Wednesday praised friendly ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying their annual trade was at $1 billion.

Karzai was speaking at a meeting with an Awami National Party delegation in Islamabad, the Daily Times reported. The Afghan president praised the party for maintaining friendly relations and expressing solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. Karzai said the ANP had always worked for peace and stability in Afghanistan, the paper reported.

Party leader Begum Nasim Wali Khan said that durable peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the interest of the whole region. She said whenever there was lawlessness in Afghanistan, it engulfed the entire region. Khan called on all countries in the region to help the Afghan government restore peace and stability.

Karzai's two-day visit to Pakistan also included talks with Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Karzai invites Wali Khan to Kabul

PESHAWAR: Afghan President, Hamid Karzai on Tuesday spoke to veteran politician Khan Abdul Wali Khan on the phone and invited him to visit Afghanistan. According to a statement by ANP Provincial Secretary Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the Afghan President held a detailed discussion with Mr Khan and Begum Nasim Wali Khan on the regional situation. Begum Wali Khan while accepting the invitation said an ANP delegation would soon visit Afghanistan to hold meting with Afghan leaders. —APP