TASHKENT: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called on his Pakistani counterpart President Mamnoon Hussain in Tashkent of Saturday.

According to details, the two leaders emphasized the need of close cooperation in fighting terrorism, which continued to cause loss of innocent human lives in both countries.

Talking to his Afghan counterpart on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, President Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan cares for its neighbouring countries and wants lasting peace in Afghanistan.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s desire for deepening of bilateral ties between both countries.

“Pakistan wants to strengthen the cooperative and good neighbourly relations with Afghanistan based on the principles of mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mamnoon said adding that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest.

Referring to the construction of gates on the Pak-Afghan border, the President said that border management was necessary and it would bring benefit to both countries.

“Pakistan believes that effective border management is a key to enhancing security and checking infiltration of terrorists,” Mamnoon said.

Speaking on the occasion, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said that Pakistan and Afghanistan would benefit together due to border management.

“Both countries should prepare the border management mechanism with mutual consultation and communication,” Ghani said.

The two leaders endorsed the decision to establish a high-level consultation mechanism headed by Adviser on Foreign Affairs and the Afghan Foreign Minister and including the two National security Advisers supported by a joint technical working group to effectively deal with issues of movement of people and vehicles between the two countries and related security issues.