ISLAMABAD, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq has expressed the hope that the re-election of Hamid Karzai as the president of Afghanistan would help boost bilateral ties, the official news agency APP reported Friday.

    The Afghan president in his meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who attended Karzai's swearing-in ceremony for a second term on Thursday, has clearly stated that he desires good relations with Pakistan, Muhammad Sadiq said in an interview with Radio Pakistan.

    The Pakistani ambassador said that the Afghan president told President Zardari that he would visit Pakistan after the formation of cabinet in Afghanistan.

    Muhammad Sadiq said that as a result of the highest level interaction between the two countries the blame game has come to an end and the relationship was moving forward positively.

    Replying a question, the ambassador said both the countries have to make joint efforts to eliminate terrorism for sustainable peace in the region, adding the two countries are already cooperating for this cause.

    Sadiq said that a number of steps have been taken to strengthen Pak-Afghan border security and in this connection Pakistan has established about 1000 check posts along the border to prevent the crossing of undesirable elements.

    He said the Afghan government on their side has also established about 110 check posts. Afghanistan should set up more such posts to prevent the illegal cross border activities, he added.

    To yet another question regarding reconstruction process of Afghanistan, the ambassador said Pakistan is actively participating in that process, as a prosperous and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.

    He said with the financial assistance of Pakistan, eight development projects are being executed in Afghanistan at a cost of 500 million U.S. dollars.

    Muhammad Sadiq said with Pakistan already facilitating 6000 Afghan students in its educational institutions, the country has announced 1000 educational scholarships and first batch of over 200 students from Afghanistan will reach Pakistan in the next three weeks.