Islamabad, September 16; The first-ever meeting of the Senate Parliamentary Friendship Group on Afghanistan took place here today to finalise preparations for the upcoming Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentarians� Dialogue IX, to be held on September 24-25, 2013 in Islamabad.

The meeting was held under the chairpersonship of the Convener of the Senate Parliamentary Friendship Group on Afghanistan, Honourable Senator Afrasiab Khattak while PILDAT facilitated the meeting at its Islamabad Offices.

Honourable Senator Afrasiab Khattak briefed the Group members on the recent visit of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production of Pakistan to Kabul and Dialogue with its counterpart Committee, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission of Meshrano Jirga of Afghan Parliament on September 10-11, 2013.

The Group discussed preparations for the upcoming Pak-Afghan MPs Dialogue IX in detail and agreed unanimously to extend its support and cooperation for the Dialogue.

Prominent members of Senate Parliamentary Friendship Group with Afghanistan who attended the meeting under the Chairmanship of Senator Afrasiab Khattak (ANP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) included Honourable Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed (PML, Islamabad), Honourable Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash (ANP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Honourable Senator Kalsoom Parveen (BNP-A, Balochistan) and Honourable Senator Farhatullah Babar (PPPP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Honourable Senator Saeed Ul Hassan Mandokhel (PML, Balochistan) also attended the meeting as a special invitee.