Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah held talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who arrived in Kabul in an official visit on Friday.

Abdullah and Abbasi discussed a range of issues, including peace and security, anti-terror efforts, violations along the Durand Line and trade relations between the two countries, the Chief Executive’s Office said in a statement. 

During their meeting, Abdullah said terrorism is a threat to security as well as economic and trade opportunities.

He reiterated that strong and honest counterterrorism efforts are required to overcome challenges in this respect. 

Abdullah said Afghanistan and Pakistan’s religious scholars should send a joint fatwa against war and violence, read the statement. 

Indirectly pointing at Pakistan’s rocket shelling on Afghanistan, Abdullah said Islamabad should take practical steps to stop the incursions.

He mentioned that Pakistan and Afghanistan should facilitate trade and transit issues between the two countries. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan prime minister said the main goal of his visit to Kabul is peace.

He added that Pakistan is ready to provide the ground for Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace talks, the statement said. 

Abbasi pointed to the problem along the Durand Line and said Pakistan does not have a policy to attack Afghanistan’s border areas.

He said the Pakistani government will take steps to stop such moves. 

Abbasi said Islamabad will ease transport and exports of Afghanistan’s goods to Pakistan and that he hopes Afghan officials will do the same. 

Islamabad is concentrating on respectful return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan, Abbasi added. 

According to the statement, Abbasi invited Abdullah Abdullah for an official visit to Pakistan to strengthen relations between the two neighboring countries.