Pakistani president arrives in Afghanistan

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday arrived in Afghan capital city Kabul to attend the Nowroz festival on the invitation of his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, said an official press release. This is the first visit by the Afghan President to Afghanistan since taking office. According to Foreign Office, President Mamnoon Hussain on the sidelines will interact with other leaders, during which bilateral matters and regional issues of peace, security, trade and economic cooperation are expected to figure. The leaders from the region, particularly from Central and West Asia, have also been invited by the Afghan government to attend the Nowroz festival. President Mamnoon's visit is a part of the efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with Afghanistan in all dimensions, and support efforts for durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region, said Foreign Office. The ceremony marking the Nawroz festival got under way at the Presidential Palace in Kabul. The UN chief and leaders of Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Armenia have been invited to the event.