Pakistan invited to Tokyo meet on Afghanistan

Japan's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Tadamichi Yamamoto has met Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to extend to her an official invitation to attend an international conference to be hosted in Tokyo on Afghanistan. The two sides discussed issues related to the Tokyo Conference, scheduled to be held in July this year. The Japanese envoy apprised her on preparation for the Conference on Afghanistan to be held at Tokyo, the foreign Ministry said. Ambassador Yamamoto stressed the importance of Pakistan for peace and stability in Afghanistan, it said. The Conference is also expected to discuss all aspects of the regional economic cooperation. The international conference is scheduled to discuss international economic assistance for the reconstruction and development in Afghanistan for the period between 2014 and 2024 known as the decade of transformation. The Japanese envoy offered to assist Pakistan in various fields including energy and education sectors. He lauded Pakistan’s efforts for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister appreciated Japan’s understanding of the complexity of situation and its substantial contribution to development projects in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Foreign Minister stressed that Pakistan is directly affected by the situation in Afghanistan and therefore, has an abiding interest in stability in that country. She said that Pakistan would be supportive of any political solution for peace in Afghanistan that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.