ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi is leaving for four countries visit to discuss latest situation in Afghanistan with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran from August 24-26, 2021.
During the visit, the Foreign Minister will have high-level interactions to exchange views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and on enhancing bilateral relations.
In the consultations, Foreign Minister Qureshi will share Pakistan’s perspective on the latest developments in Afghanistan. Pakistan believes that the neighboring countries have a vital stake in the peace, security and stability of Afghanistan and the region. It is important to coordinate closely with the neighbours to address common challenges and advance shared goals of peace, security, stability and regional connectivity.
In the bilateral context, the Foreign Minister’s visit to these countries will build on the recent high-level exchanges to further intensify close cooperative relations. Pakistan desires to further deepen and broaden its multifaceted cooperation with these partners.
The Foreign Minister’s visit would help promote a coordinated regional approach as well as strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with Central and West Asia. Mr Qureshi will also discuss evacuation and mutual cooperation between these countries.
Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, Mr Qureshi and his counterparts from Russia, Turkey, Germany, Brazil and OIC Secretary General have discussed Afghan security situation and vowed to enhance mutual cooperation to promote peace in Afghanistan and pace up evacuation efforts.Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke on the telephone today with the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, to exchange views on the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister underscored that Pakistan will continue to play its constructive role in promoting sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan. He expressed the hope that Afghan parties would work for an inclusive political settlement. The success of negotiations in Kabul would not only benefit Afghanistan but also the region.
The Foreign Minister stressed on the importance of ensuring the safety, security and protection of the rights of Afghan people.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that it was imperative for the international community to remain engaged with Afghanistan including by supporting the country’s economy, reconstruction, rehabilitation and humanitarian needs. He added that it was also important for the Muslim Ummah to show its traditional solidarity with the Afghan people in their quest for a peaceful, united, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Noting the significance of efforts towards establishing an inclusive government, the Foreign Minister warned about spoilers within and outside Afghanistan who wanted to take advantage of the situation in the country.
The Foreign Minister highlighted the role played by Pakistan in facilitating the evacuation and relocation of personnel of diplomatic missions, international organizations, media and others from Afghanistan.
The OIC Secretary General apprised the Foreign Minister of the extra-ordinary meeting of the OIC Executive Meeting that has been convened in Jeddah at the level of Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives tomorrow, 22 August 2021, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
Moreover, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation in Afghanistan today. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan emphasized that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and the region. Pakistan had consistently supported the Afghan peace process.
He added that Pakistan and Russia, as part of Troika Plus, had made valuable contributions to these efforts. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue working closely through the Troika Plus format.
Foreign Minister Qureshi stressed the importance of ensuring safety and security as well as protection of rights of all Afghans.
The Foreign Minster further highlighted that an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan was fully supporting efforts in that direction.
The Foreign Minister also apprised his Russian counterpart of Pakistan’s outreach to regional countries for consultations on dealing with the challenges arising out of developments in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi also informed Foreign Minister Lavrov that upon request of several governments, Pakistan was facilitating evacuation of their diplomatic personnel, staff of international organizations, media and others from Afghanistan.
On the bilateral plane, Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations. He reiterated the Government’s resolve for early implementation of the agreement on Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in different areas, enhance high level exchanges and remain in close contact on matters relating to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister received a telephone call from Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes and discussed with her the latest situation in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister underscored the importance of security, stability, inclusive political settlement to Afghanistan issue.
The Foreign Minister added that it was essential for the world community to support the people of Afghanistan to address humanitarian situation for the economic sustenance.
The Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate evacuation of diplomatic personnel and staff of international organizations and others from Afghanistan.
The Belgian Foreign Minister conveyed thanks for Pakistan’s support and facilitation in their evacuation endeavours.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received a telephone call from Heiko Maas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, today. The two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined the critical importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan. He added that an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward and Pakistan supported efforts in that direction.
The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan was working closely with regional and international partners and that Pakistan and Germany had convergent views. The Foreign Minister highlighted that Pakistan was undertaking wide diplomatic outreach to promote shared objectives.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said that we must work together to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. The international community’s support for Afghan peace process would be of vital importance in this regard.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan also stressed that it was important for the international community to remain engaged in support of the Afghan people for ensuring humanitarian and economic assistance. Foreign Minister Qureshi invited the German Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan to carry forward the process of substantive engagement between the two countries and close consultations on the Afghanistan issue.
Mr Qureshi also received a telephone call from Dutch Foreign Minister, Sigrid Kaag, and exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and matters of bilateral importance.
The two Foreign Ministers noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Prime Minister Mark Rutte had exchange of views on 19 August 2021. Foreign Minister Qureshi said that safety, security and stability in Afghanistan were of critical importance and an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward.
The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan was in touch with regional and international partners. It was essential for the world community to stay engaged in order to support the people of Afghanistan, economically and to help rebuild the country.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu today and exchanged views on bilateral relations and reviewed the latest situation in Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Qureshi stated that the recent visit of President Dr. Arif Alvi to Turkey for the launching ceremony of MILGEM Naval Ship further strengthened bilateral cooperation.
The two Foreign Ministers also recalled the recent telephone conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about developments in Afghanistan.
Reiterating Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined the importance of an inclusive political solution as the best way forward. The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) had underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region. The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the Afghan leaders would work together to achieve inclusive political settlement.
Foreign Minister Qureshi added that the current situation in Afghanistan required sustained international engagement to ensure stability and long-term economic development.
The Foreign Minister also apprised his Turkish counterpart of Pakistan’s facilitative role in evacuation of personnel of Embassies, international organizations, media entities and others. Foreign Minister Cavusoglu appreciated Pakistan’s role in the current situation and thanked Foreign Minister Qureshi for facilitating Turkey’s evacuation efforts.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed to coordinate closely on the situation in Afghanistan.
