Afghan president wants 'real and honest friendship' with Pakistan
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NEW YORK: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wants to build a “real and honest friendship” with Pakistan during his visit to Islamabad later this week, his spokesman was quoted as saying in a dispatch published in the Wall Street Journal on Sunday.
Reporting from Kabul, the newspaper said the visit was aimed at resetting ties with Pakistan.
Nazifullah Salarzai, the Afghan president's spokesman, said the Afghan leader would visit Pakistan this week for an official meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Salarzai added that the talks would focus on bolstering economic ties and security cooperation.
“Afghanistan wants to build a real friendship with its neighbouring country,” Salarzai said. “As the president has said, we have this window of opportunity; we want this window to be transformed into a door, then into a corridor and then into a highway.”
Ghani would undertake his first visit to Pakistan from Nov 14 on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. During his two-day visit, Ghani would also meet President Mamnoon Hussain, sources told Dawn.
Prime Minister Nawaz would receive the Afghan president on Nov 15 at his official residence where formal bilateral talks would take place followed by a joint press briefing.
Broad range of issues including security, defence, economy and post withdrawal of Nato, Isaf forces from Afghanistan would be discussed between the two countries.
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On DawnNews
Nov 10, 2014 11:59am
As if India would let this happen!
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Nov 10, 2014 12:00pm
Suggesting that the current so called friendship is not real. Emphasizing again on Pentagon report that Pakistan is not honest with their neighbors.
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Nov 10, 2014 12:01pm
Honest friendship, hope pakistan will not play double game again
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Nov 10, 2014 12:22pm
The ties between the two countries are improving and Insha Allah both will be honest friends in future.
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Nov 10, 2014 12:24pm
@Sameer Honest? National.policy must be based primarily on self - interest
If a win-win relationship can be crafted that is ideal because it will work longer.
Clarity of objective is essential to stay focused. Objective of any government is to improve the lot of one's electorate.
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Nov 10, 2014 12:26pm
his predecessor hamid karzai also tried same strategy but failed and then was against pak.History will repeat itself as pak will not let taliban having no influence in Afghan as then pak will loose strategic influence on afghan.
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Nov 10, 2014 12:36pm
We also want real and honest friendship but not like your past president. And you also stop listening to our neighbour instead of your neighbour.
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Nov 10, 2014 12:44pm
@ Moosa Taliban of Pakistan and Afghanistan wont let this happen.
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Nov 10, 2014 12:48pm
@ Moosa India is not a super power, this all region is under Pakistani-Afghan control, let India interfere, they will dig their graves if they dare to interfere
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Nov 10, 2014 12:59pm
Honesty should be shown by the Afghan government and it should not play in Indian hands. Can they do it? Only time will tell ...
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Nov 10, 2014 01:19pm
@MA WOrld know better who is playing double game
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Nov 10, 2014 01:20pm
@Imran sheikh And ur national policy is to play proxy with all neighbour
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Nov 10, 2014 01:32pm
@Einstein Babar This is called freedom. Hope you understand.
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Nov 10, 2014 01:35pm
@Einstein Babar As a Pakistani, I am ashamed of your attitude towards Indians.
Dear Indian friends, please accept my sincere apology for the words of Babar. It is people like him and the Taliban that are holding this nation hostage.
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Nov 10, 2014 01:40pm
He needs to dismantle the Indian sponsored terror camps in Afghanistan first.
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Nov 10, 2014 01:48pm
@Einstein Babar There may be small Indians and some dark Indians, but who are uniformly proud of the many successes of their India. India and Pakistan have come a long way since 1994, 2004 and now 2014. No one calls China a poor or developing nation anymore, just after 15 years. Just wait ten more years and cherish your passport while you can. All the very best.
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Nov 10, 2014 02:10pm
@Einstein Babar Ha ha. Einstein is wrong this time.
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Nov 10, 2014 02:24pm
Really how honest, first of all take all the refugees back who are living in Pakistan. Secondly our so democratic neighbors will not let it happen.
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Nov 10, 2014 02:51pm
@Sunil Please explain more, don't be a philosopher because I understand clear things
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Nov 10, 2014 02:59pm
@Mubashir We spent almost 67 years with India, if this span of time is not enough to understand these people, I guess you will never understand them. Don't you know that they are involved in many criminal activities in Pakistan. What America got from Afghanistan, they left bare handed, India should not do this adventure because Afghanistan is not a paradise for them plus I am helping them, if Pakistan is resolved, believe me there will be no India, see the example of soviet union and central Asia
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Nov 10, 2014 03:02pm
@Einstein Babar Thank you Babar for considering Indians small and black. Also thank for thinking that India is a powerless country trying to do more than it can. Also thanks for spreading this information among your countrymen. Thank you for being ignorant, and spreading ignorance. Ignorance will destroy Pakistan without we Indians having to risk ourselves in a war. Thank you for your ignorance Babar. Lots of love ... :)
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Nov 10, 2014 03:55pm
@Mubashir Fitting reply to a Madrassa graduate
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Nov 10, 2014 04:37pm
@Einstein Babar
Grow up boy and stop living in dreams. We created our own monsters and still are fighting em. India is not a superpower but surely a quasi superpower.
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Nov 10, 2014 05:22pm
Honest and Pakistan? Forget it Mr. Ghani.
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Nov 10, 2014 05:28pm
Bravo. Honesty, mutual trust and friendship is surely the way forward. More trade, more investment and more people-to-people contact is the only way to cement bilateral ties, and to remove prejudices and stereotypes on both sides of the border. It is not so important to forget history as it is to learn from it.
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Nov 10, 2014 05:44pm
Afghanistan is a thankless neighbor. It is never able to distinguish between friends and foes. We sheltered the highest number of refugees for years.
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Nov 10, 2014 05:51pm
In other words he is saying they can never be.
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Nov 10, 2014 05:52pm
@Einstein Babar because sir, we are more educated both in quality and quantity. The electricity is 24 hours. We have leisure time after hard work. We put it to good use.
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Nov 10, 2014 06:25pm
@Sameer And America is so unbiased.!
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Nov 10, 2014 06:31pm
What are the ground realities telling us?
It tells us that Pakistan has more security headache and problems as compared to Afghanistan. The list continues as follows:
1. TTP
2. Karachi Linguistic and ethnic violence and hate etc
3. Shia V sunni
4. Targeted Killings of minorities
5. Balochistan Liberation movement
6. LET, LEJ
7. Kashimiri Militants etc
Afghanistan security problems:
1. Afghan Taliban
2. Narco Trade Maffia
So who needs more help is it Pakistan or Afghanistan. I believe that soon Afghanistan will have upper hand and then Pakistan will have zero influence and terms will be dictated to them, so better start the honest relationship otherwise Afghanistan will develop the potential to burry Pakistan deep inside the ground. Given Pakistan past dealings, double game, Jalalabad attack, support for Taliban etc, Afghanistan wont hesitate in giving us the taste of our own medicine. So difficult times are ahead.
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Nov 10, 2014 06:33pm
@dr vimal: I lived in UP for a year. There were so many power outages.
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Nov 10, 2014 06:35pm
Mr. Ghani you are coming but we don't know whether our PM would be here or not because recently he has been on a touring spree. You could probably wait till our PM gives a visit to Pakistan,
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Nov 10, 2014 06:40pm
@Varntvar You are right, Problem in Pakistan is not with the terrorists living in caves. Problem is with english educated intelligent people spreading so much negativity and hatred in Pakistan in order to defend un-defendable Pakistan's attitude. They supposed to question 1970s style ISI, Military doctrines which is leading Pakistan in to failed nuclear state, instead they are supporting it.
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Nov 10, 2014 06:44pm
Good step forward. You are welcome president.
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Nov 10, 2014 06:51pm
@dr vimal u ppl just go and make bathrooms at 1st then criticize pakistanis,the income fora smal worker in india is 20 rupees a day look at the alarming condition in india at 1st then say something about pak
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Nov 10, 2014 07:03pm
The krux of failings in relationship is INDIA...once Afghanistan accepts that we can move forward.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:05pm
@Einstein Babar Good comment.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:07pm
Mr Ghani start with closing down TTP camps
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Nov 10, 2014 07:10pm
@Mubashir u dnt need to apologize for his racist comment...Pakistani people are not like dt...i knw..so cheers!
on d contrary I was laughing. ..
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Nov 10, 2014 07:11pm
@KRana Hope India will dismantle its network of terror from Afghanistan and stop supporting TTP and other terror groups inside Baluchistan. Once that happens, Pakistan will consider positive steps on its side. Otherwise, the intelligence warfare will go on.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:13pm
@KRana Don't forget that you started it first in East Pakistan.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:17pm
He will realize with time. Right now he is making a fresh start with an open mind, Modi also tried the same initially, but soon got the reply from Pakistan. Ghani will also realize Pakistan will keep doing what it has been doing over the years.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:22pm
@Dr Carla Its comments like this that make me detest you and you're country.. Hate begets hate.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:34pm
@Einstein Babar Every page you open, you see only indian names and comments. Perhaps there is no press freedom in india!
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Nov 10, 2014 07:49pm
Dr. Ghani is a thorough gentleman probably unfit for politics in a third world country like Afghanistan. He would need to exert self against every negativity in his country.
Like he said at the end of 2006 in a report published in The Financial Times (September 18, 2006), “I hope to win, through ideas.” He is expected to live his words now, whwn he has a unique chance to do so.
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Nov 10, 2014 07:52pm
Wow the whole of India is so obsessed with Pakistan
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Nov 10, 2014 07:56pm
Much appreciated and we would like a relationship where you fulfill your commitments.
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Nov 10, 2014 08:12pm
If serious friendship happens between these two neighbor then the region will stabilize which is not in interest of Pak and I doubt there will be any serious initiative from Pak side.
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Nov 10, 2014 08:34pm
@Einstein Babar How much you guys are obessed with india? And why you guys keep on asking the same question even though we have told you 5 times since last 67years that what you are !! And finally, we short and black indians(as you mentioned) atleast have respect and belief for our nation .
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Nov 10, 2014 08:34pm
@Mubashir
Thank you brother!
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Nov 10, 2014 08:42pm
and you get the by bring all Afghans back home... You guys have created a mess in our country by living illegally..
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Nov 10, 2014 08:53pm
There is no such thing. grow up and discard your naievete.
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Nov 10, 2014 08:57pm
Dr. Ghani should not visit Pakistan, it would be a waste of time. He has already met general Raheel, no need to meet Nawaz
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Nov 10, 2014 09:11pm
@Einstein Babar You can dream if it makes you feel good You have only one friend that is China and he is with you because want use Pakistan
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Nov 10, 2014 09:29pm
@Einstein Babar :: Try to use decent respectable language. You are hurting yourself by harboring hatred in your heart . Grow up and be self-respecting!
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Nov 10, 2014 09:41pm
Both Afghanistan and Pakistan first need to hold honest elections
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Nov 10, 2014 10:57pm
Honesty begins at home. Sincerity is shown not pretended.
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Nov 10, 2014 11:23pm
I lived and worked in Afghanistan. Most of the people are illiterate and ill mannered and they consider Pakistanis to be no less than savages! Honest relationship between governments? Maybe. Between people? Hmm.
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Nov 10, 2014 11:38pm
may be as a first step, all so called afghan refugees be taken back by afghanistan
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Nov 11, 2014 02:45am
@Einstein Babar afganistan is a independent country... pls dont tell them with whom they can or can not become friends... that will help u to create a am for frndship
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Nov 11, 2014 03:39am
@salim Independent from what, NATO or USA.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:05pm
@Einstein Babar Do mean to say that only superpowers are permitted to interfere?May be true as is evident from Drone attacks.By the way what could you do when India interfered in Bangladesh?We know we need to pay a price for our involvement in Afghanistan. We are prepared to pay.Your forewarning helps us.Thank you.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:24pm
@najeeb Find a new argument my dear.Lack of toilets in India is NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF MONEY.IT IS BECAUSE MOST VILLAGERS IN INDIA CONSIDER IT A TABOO TO HAVE A TOILET IN THEIR HOUSES.Most houses have TVs &everybody has a mobile.
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