Washington, July 12(ANI): The United States has backed the decision taken by Afghanistan and Pakistan to form a joint military working group to address the recent spate of cross-border raids.
"The United States supports the decision by Afghanistan and Pakistan to form a joint military working group to address recent incidents along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a statement.
"We call on both sides to continue to engage cooperatively to lower tensions on the border and to ensure the protection of the local population in the border regions," she added.
She noted that the last year has been one of real progress in the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that the signing and implementing of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and the formation of the Joint High Peace Commission are just two examples of the positive and mutually beneficial advances in the countries' bilateral relationship.
"We hope that the joint working group will continue this record of productive, diplomatic engagement," she added.
Earlier this month, Pakistan and Afghanistan decided to set up a military 'hotline' between both nations in an effort to ease bilateral tensions triggered by the recent spate of cross-border raids and mortar shelling incidents.
The move came at a meeting between Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Afghan Ambassador Muhammad Umer Daudzai in Islamabad. (ANI)
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