KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday expressed Afghanistan’s willingness to bolster bilateral relations and trade with Pakistan and emphasized on easing traveling restrictions for the citizens of both countries, and addressing the challenges of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

President Ghani was talking to Pakistan’s new Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan, who presented credentials at the Presidential Palace in capital Kabul.

“The president highlighted the Afghan government has adopted the regional connectivity policy that will be to the benefit of Pakistan, particularly on transmission of the Central Asian energy to that country,” a statement from the Palace said.

President Ghani stressed that the government of Afghanistan expects the countries in the region to support the peace process for ending the conflict and ensuring lasting peace in Afghanistan that will be beneficial to the entire region.

The Pakistani envoy conveyed the best wishes and regards of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to President Ashraf Ghani and the people of Afghanistan, according to the statement.

Ambassador Khan said Pakistan is keen to deepen bilateral ties with Afghanistan, adding that the country wants sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

The incoming ambassador said his new mission will be focused on expansion of Afghanistan-Pakistan mutual relationship, trade and transit as well as providing further traveling facilities for both countries’ nationals. He said Pakistan would support the Afghan government’s policy on promotion of regional connectivity and cooperation.

Meanwhile, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Mirwais Nab met with Mansoor Ahmad Khan. Welcoming Mr. Mansoor as the Pakistan’s new Ambassador to Afghanistan, the Deputy Minister wished him success in his new mission, an Afghan foreign ministry statement said.

Ambassador Mansoor said that Afghanistan and Pakistan had deep political, economic and cultural ties. He pledged to work on further strengthening mutual relations between the two countries. During the meeting, Ambassador Mansoor presented a copy of his credentials to Mr. Nab.