May 27, Islamabad: High voter turnout and political maturity displayed in Afghan Presidential Election shows democracy is gaining ground in Afghanistan, said Senator Afrasiab Khattak while sharing his observations from the first phase of Afghanistan Election 2014. He was the keynote speaker at a PILDAT Forum on Afghanistan Presidential Election 2014 held in Islamabad today.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak said that Pakistan needs to extend its support to the people of Afghanistan for a peaceful and democratic transition. Pakistan should also extend support to Afghanistan for joint economic ventures that will help both the countries to sustain economic stability in the South Asian region. Our focus should shift from Geo-Strategic to Geo-Economic relations with Afghanistan. He also pointed out that Taliban have emerged strong militarily but not politically. Both countries should make sincere efforts to curb terrorism.

A large number of Parliamentarians, Media, Civil Society Organisations and Academia participated actively in the Forum.