ISLAMABAD: During a meeting with Afghan Defence Minister General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi on Monday, army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said Pakistan sought sustainable peace and security in Afghanistan.

On the occasion, the Afghan defence minister said it was important to increase defence cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The meeting that took place at the GHQ in Rawalpindi discussed the situation at the Pak-Afghan border along with other defence co-operation between the two countries.

The Afghan defence minister said Afghanistan would continue to seek guidance from Pakistan in its defence-related matters. The two agreed on co-operation between the countries in order to fight terrorism.

Afghan minister arrived here on Monday on a five-day visit during which it would hold meetings with both the military and political leadership of Pakistan.

The delegation was received by Inspector General of Training and Development Lt Gen Raheel Sharif.

Military sources believe the visit will help the two countries build bridges for a trustworthy and sustained bilateral relationship both in military and political areas.

“With the Americans set to leave Afghanistan by the end of next year, and the Indians despite their best efforts having failed to create a space within the war-torn country for themselves, such a high-level meeting bodes well for the two neighboring countries,” said a military official.

“After a lot of back and forth movement to have good, friendly and mutually beneficial ties, Pakistan and Afghanistan appeared to have reached the conclusion that the only way forward was to build partnership,” he said.