ISLAMABAD: Regional security experts on Monday called upon the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan to avoid statements that are detrimental to the relations of the two countries.

They were exchanging views during their meetings with the political leaders at the Senate, including Chairman National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee Awais Leghari, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Senator Kamil Ali Agha and Pakhtunkhwa MilliAwami Party (PkMAP) chief MNA Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

The meetings were organised as part of the initiative `Beyond Boundaries` launched by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in partnership with its Afghan counterpart organisation, DURAN Research and Analysis (DRA) and sub-national partner (Pakistan), the Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA) a major PakistanAfghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue, to improve Pakistan and Afghanistan relations.

The experts from both countries highlighted the importance of civil society, parliament democratic institutions in strengthening the two countries relations.

The political leadership said Afghanistan could not be stabilised without a stable Pakistan.

They said Pakistan under any cir-cumstances would not allow any sort of terrorism in Afghanistan.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that Afghanistan was a brotherly country and thus they did not consider it as a foreign country.

He also said that National Assembly and Senate were willing to address any issues of bilateral nature that could be solved at their level.

First Deputy Speaker, Lower House of Afghan Parliament, Mirwais Yasini highlighted the issues of transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Former Sindh inspector general (IG) of police Dr Shoaib Suddle who was present on the occasion as delegation member from Pakistan side said that there was an issue of narrative on both sides.

He said being Federal Tax Ombudsman he closely monitored the transit issues and stressed the need of facilitating honest traders.`Smuggling in disguise is a major hurdle in easing transit trade. Role of Senate and Senators can be instrumental in this regard,` he concluded.

The Regional Security Working Groups` also had a meeting with Chairman Foreign Relations Committee, Awais Leghari.

Mr Leghari said that cordial and friendly relations with Afghanistan needed ownership from both countries.

`Resolve of political and military leadership can translate into results, he said while adding that Pakistan has made a national resolve to fight terrorism after the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar.

Awais Leghari underlined the need to sit down together; ignoring where both sides went wrong.

`There can`t be stable Pakistan unless there is stable Afghanistan, he concluded.