ISLAMABAD: Member National Assembly Mehnas Akbar Aziz on Friday called for creation of a parliamentary caucus for Pak-Afghan relations.

“It is very heartening as well as my first time to be sitting across an assembly of youth from across the border. I will definitely report to the parliament about this and ask the lawmakers to create a parliamentary caucus for Pak-Afghan relations,” she said while speaking to a gathering of Pakistani and Afghan youth and speakers from both countries at a youth summit organised by Afghan Studies Centre in Islamabad.

The summit focused on connecting youth beyond borders to work for a better tomorrow and was attended by a 13-member Afghan delegation and young representatives from High Peace Council, Kabul.

Former member of Afghan Parliament Khalid Pashtoon said he was delighted to see the youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan together under one roof.

“This opens the roads for consensus towards a better and progressive future. Both countries were very close a few decades ago, then bad things happened and there emerged a space between the two neighbours.”

He said in recent years a lot had been done regarding bilateral relations.

“We have come a long way. One such example is of the opening of the Torkham border round the clock. It will help facilitate cross-border mobility and will also increase the trade volume.

“The surge in trade will result in increased profits across the border; reinforcing peace and better bilateral relation. It is our responsibility to give the youth a hope so that they can play a key role in bringing sustainable peace,” added the former Afghan legislator.

Former Nangarhar governor Saleem Khan Kunduzi said the youth can play a decisive role in shaping the future of their countries.

“You should not think that you cannot bring change just because you are not in power corridors. Remember the power of people is more than the people in power,” said Kunduzi.

On educational linkages, Dr Huma Baqai said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan had been committed to facilitating Afghan students to avail educational opportunities in all institutions in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2019