Pakistan has formally invited Afghanistan to participate in a landmark regional parliamentary conference aimed at tackling pressing issues of peace and stability, a move designed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation throughout South and Central Asia.
The invitation was extended on Wednesday when Ambassador Misbah Khar, Pakistan’s Special Envoy for the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), met with Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, at the Afghan Embassy.
During the discussion, Special Envoy Khar outlined the objectives of the ISC, describing it as a crucial platform for promoting discourse and collaboration among parliaments to advance connectivity and sustainable development. She underscored that the conference represents a collective endeavor to build trust through parliamentary diplomacy.
The envoy reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining close and constructive relations with its neighbor, emphasizing that Kabul’s involvement in the ISC would be vital for regional development and contribute significantly to stability in the broader area.
Ambassador Shakib expressed his appreciation for the comprehensive briefing and commended Pakistan’s leadership in launching the timely initiative. He conveyed Afghanistan’s readiness to engage constructively in legislative forums that foster peace and mutual understanding.
Khar informed the Afghan ambassador that the inaugural session of the ISC is scheduled for November 11 and 12 in Islamabad under the theme ‘Peace, Development, Stability and Security.’ She also noted that international confidence in Pakistan’s diplomatic leadership was reflected in the unanimous election of Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as the ISC’s founding President.
The meeting concluded with expressions of goodwill and a shared resolve to enhance bilateral and regional partnership through sustained parliamentary engagement. Tariq bin Waheed, Senior Director General (Protocol) of the Senate of Pakistan, was also in attendance.