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PM Wants To See Afghanistan A Stable And Successful Nation

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed his happiness over the many progress and positive development Afghanistan has achieved over the last four years and also the ongoing progress in the reconstruction of the wartorn nation.

Afghanistan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah said that this was conveyed to him during his 30-minute courtesy call on the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya WEdnesday.

The Afghan Foreign Minister said that Abdullah also expressed his view that Malaysia was keen to see a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, a country which was now slowly rebuilding after almost 25 years of war and civil strife, from the time of Soviet occupation in 1979 until the ouster of the Taliban regime in late 2001.

Speaking to Bernama at the end of his two-day visit, Dr Abdullah said that one area where Malaysia was currently helping Afghanistan was in capacity building and the Prime Minister said that Malaysia would continue to assist Afghanistan in that field.

"The Prime Minister said that Malaysia will in whatever means and ways contribute within its capacity to the well-being and betterment of the country and the people and help Afghanistan to continue to move forward," he said.

Dr Abdullah arrived here on Monday night leading a 27-member delegation to create awareness and update on the investment and trade opportunities in Afghanistan. He left for the United States this afternoon for a visit.

Since 2001, under the capacity building programme, about 140 Afghanistan officials have attended courses under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in fields such as civil service administration, finance, education and security.

Dr Abdullah said that the Prime Minister also said that Kuala Lumpur was keen to see continued peace and stability in Afghanistan and succeed in its reconstruction process and rebuilding of the central Asia country of some 26 million people.

He said Malaysia was playing a prominent role as the current chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Kabul would continue to work together with Malaysia for the well-being of the Ummah.

"We consider Malaysia a model for development... we can learn a lot from them.Malaysia and its leaders had always been friendly and sympathetic supporters of the Afghan people," he said.

Dr Abdullah also said that during his discussions with his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on Tuesday, he had expressed his wish that Malaysia provide more places for Afghan students in public institutions of higher learning, adding that the response was positive.

Currently there are some 43 Afghan students studying in Malaysian institutions of higher learning.

-- BERNAMA