Pak, US come closer to achieve Afghan peace.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan and the United States are coming closer to clinching a permanent solution to the Afghan issue, top officials said on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan had played a key role in setting the stage for the Afghan peace.

'Peace in Afghanistan is in our interest. We have played a great role in the process with all those who helped us (in this regard). We have worked with the US too,' he told The Nation. FM Qureshi said that both Pakistan and the US were satisfied over the progress on the Afghan peace.

Over the weekend, Pakistan opened its two border terminals at Torkham and Chaman for transit trade and exports to Afghanistan on the request of the Afghanistan government.

'Now, keeping in view both the countries' desire to further increase mutual trade, in view of strong fraternal ties and due to renewed Afghan government's request, it has been decided that with effect from June 22, 2020, the third border terminal at Ghulam Khan will be opened for bilateral trade and to allow transit trade and import from Afghanistan through Torkham and Chaman border terminals as well,' said a foreign ministry statement, announcing new developments.

This arrangement on trade, it said, will be in operation six days a week. Saturdays will be reserved for pedestrian movement at these border crossing terminals.

'These steps are being taken after implementing all necessary protocols related to COVID-19 pandemic,' the statement added.

The opening of Ghulam Khan border crossing terminal and allowing imports from Afghanistan reflects Pakistan's resolve to help Afghanistan and facilitate its trade.

Pakistan is a major trading partner of Afghanistan and largest market for Afghan exports. The opening of Gwadar Port for Afghanistan's export and import has further strengthened trade linkages between the two countries.

'Pakistan will continue to support a peaceful and economically stable Afghanistan,' the foreign ministry statement said.

Last week, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban discussed the peace process this week in Doha.

Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq visited Doha, Qatar on June 16-17 and met Taliban leaders including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to discuss the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

'The Special Representative underlined that Pakistan will continue to play its role as facilitator for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. In this context, he referred to the highly...

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