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Afghan President arrives in Islamabad for Heart of Asia Conference

Xinhua, December 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to attend a regional conference on Afghanistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received the Afghan President upon his arrival at a military base near Islamabad. Ministers and services chiefs were also at the airbase to welcome the Afghan President and members of his entourage.

The Afghan president received a 21-gun salute. A continent of Pakistani forces presented him a Guard of Honour at the Nur Khan Airbase. National anthems of the two countries were played on the occasion.

It is the second visit of Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan. He last visited Islamabad in November 2014.

President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will jointly inaugurate the day-long ministerial conference of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process later on Wednesday.

President Ghani will also hold bilateral meeting with Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif to discuss key issues, focusing on peace process in Afghanistan.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was established in 2011 at the initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey.

The main objective of the process is to foster efforts for regional cooperation and connectivity with a view to promoting long-term peace and stability as well as progress and development in Afghanistan and the region.

The Fifth Ministerial Conference is expected to adopt a forward looking Islamabad Declaration entitled "Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Connectivity in the Heart of Asia Region".

The declaration would underline commitments from the Heart of Asia countries and partners for sustained efforts towards promoting peace and security, economic development and connectivity in the region. Endit