Kabul: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with the Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, the two sides called for strengthened efforts to maintain the momentum in bilateral relations and to expand cooperation in trade, transit and security, domains to the mutual benefit of both peoples.

They agreed to remain engaged to achieve the full potential of regional economic development, including through realization of trans-regional connectivity projects.

Prior to this, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, for the signing of the trilateral Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project.

Ishaq Dar is accompanied by Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador (Retd) Muhammad Sadiq Khan and Secretary Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah.

The UAP Railway Project aims to build a rail link to connect Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan and facilitate access to Pakistani seaports for Central Asian States. By facilitating regional trade and transit, the project is expected to promote regional stability, growth and development.

The DPM/FM's visit underscores the importance Pakistan attaches to the successful realization of the UAP Railway Project. The signing of the Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study between the three participating countries in Kabul will be an important step towards its implementation.

During the visit, Ishaq Dar will also hold meeting with the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister and will call on Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan to discuss bilateral matters and exchange views on regional and international developments.