Military

Pakistan, Afghanistan to sign bilateral cooperation agreement

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 7 ,IRNA--Pakistan and Afghanistan will sign a Joint Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation during the visit to Kabul by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, the Foreign Ministry said.

Zardari embarked on a two-day visit to Afghanistan on the invitation of his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministers of the two countries will sign the agreement in the presence of President Zardari and President Karzai in Kabul, the Foreign Ministry said.

It is the first visit to Kabul by Asif Zardari since he assumed office in September.

The President is accompanied by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Governor North West Frontier Province Owais Ahmad Ghani, and other prominent political personalities of the country.

The two leaders will hold tete-a-tete followed by delegation-level talks, the Foreign Ministry said.

"The talks will cover wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues".

President Karzai will host a Banquet in honour of President Zardari which will be attended by the Afghan dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.

President Karzai will also host a one-on-one breakfast in honour of President Zardari on Wednesday.

Zardari was earlier scheduled to visit Kabul last month but had to cancel the trip due to bad weather.

The two sides are also expected to discuss the jirga process to involve tribal elders in the efforts to defeat Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants, officials said.