ISLAMABAD, MAY 18 (DNA) – Matsuda Kuninori, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, welcomes the signing of power-sharing deal between H.E. Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on May 17 in Kabul as a possible breakthrough in the Afghan peace process, signaling the end of months-long stalemate after the latest presidential election.

On this occasion, Ambassador MATSUDA reaffirms that the Government of Japan strongly hopes that the intra-Afghan negotiations will make a steady and constructive progress toward an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned durable and comprehensive peace.

The ambassador also reiterates that Government of Japan will continue to actively contribute to the peace and stability of Afghanistan in collaboration with the international community and looks forward to working closely with Pakistan.

Japan has continuously supported the host communities of Afghan refugees in Pakistan especially in the fields of health, education, and water and sanitation. Our total assistance for Afghan refugees in Pakistan provided through UNHCR amounts to USD 160 million for the past 36 years.=DNA

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