Islamabad: Expressing optimism over the otherwise strained Afghanistan and Pakistan bilateral relationship, Pakistan President Mamoon Hussain has said that Afghanistan will be a close friend of Pakistan in the future.
Speaking during a gathering at the President House, President Hussain urged the Afghan Government to fulfill its responsibilities towards protection of diplomats and regional stability, reported Khaama Press.
This came in the wake of killing of a Pakistani diplomat Nara Iqbal by unknown gunmen in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan on Monday.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has condemned the killing of a Pakistan diplomat and has ordered a probe into it.
Pakistan is desirous of peace and development in Afghanistan and Kabul will have to trust Islamabad in that regard, Hussain said.
Both the countries share strained relationship, mainly due to the presence of the terror safe havens, the report said.
The Afghan officials are of the belief that the Taliban and Haqqani network leaders use the Pakistani soil as safe havens for the attacks in Afghanistan. (ANI)