ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - According to the press, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar wrote a letter to his Afghan counterpart, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve common goals.

PM Kakar's letter to Afghanistan's interim Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hasan Akhund comes as tensions between the two countries rise due to increased cross-border terror attacks.

PM Kakar stated in his letter, "Pakistan has close fraternal relations with Afghanistan because we are neighbors and brothers." Religion, culture, and history all play a role in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations."

According to the premier, Islamabad is determined to strengthen bilateral, political, security, and economic ties with Kabul.

Pakistan accused the interim Afghan government of abusing the transit trade agreement last week.

"Our Customs authorities must ensure that any border trade that occurs complies with the understandings and agreements between Pakistan and Afghanistan and that such commercial activities do not violate Pakistani laws," said the Foreign Office.

The FO also stated that trade between the two countries was increasing, calling it a fact. According to the statement, the activity has increased due to Pakistan's trade facilitation with Afghanistan.

The remarks came after a clash between the two countries' security forces on September 6, which injured a Frontier Corps soldier. This resulted in the Torkham border being closed for more than a week.

A day earlier, the caretaker PM stated that Pakistan was committed to long-term peace in Afghanistan and the region and working with the Afghan Taliban and the international community at all relevant forums.

He stated that the Taliban agreed under the Doha agreement that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against any country and that they were addressing Afghan transit issues, including illegal trade.

In response to the terrorist attacks from Afghan soil, Prime Minister Kakar stated that Pakistan reserves the right to defend itself against any terrorist activity and will take the necessary steps to protect its people and land whenever necessary.

However, he stated that they would make appropriate decisions when the time came.