Islamabad, December 31; The Afghan Parliamentary delegation visiting to be part of the 12th Round of Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentarians� Dialogue, called on Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, today at the Prime Minister�s House.

"I assure you that you would not find Pakistan lagging behind in supporting Afghanistan," said the Honourable Prime Minister in addressing the Afghan delegation.

The Co-Chairs from Pakistan, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence, and Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Chairman Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, accompanied the delegation. H. E. Mr. Janan Mosazai, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan, was also present on the occasion. Also present among the Prime Minister were his Advisors on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tariq Fatemi and Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar.

Mr. Nawaz Sharif said that he has fond memories of visiting Kabul since 1965 and he longs to see a developed Kabul and a prosperous Afghanistan with the same free movement of citizens of Pakistan and Afghanistan in each other's country. Prime Minister added that he has a special love for the people of Afghanistan, and the new leadership in the two nations has vowed not to allow our territories to be used against each other.

The Honourable Prime Minister also thanked PILDAT for its initiative of sustaining the Parliamentary dialogues and supported the suggestion to initiate similar dialogues amongst Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan with those of their counterparts in Afghanistan. Taking keen personal interest in the suggestion, he said his Government will speak to the 4 Chief Ministers of Pakistan to support the initiative of sub-State level dialogues.