Title: ‘Use diplomatic channels instead of blame game’, Qureshi tells Afghan counterpart
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Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday met his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), a statement from the Foreign Office (FO) said.
The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including the Afghan peace process, bilateral trade and economic relations, according to the communiqué.
Underlining that close coordination is essential to further advance the bilateral relations and Afghan peace process, the foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan's consistent policy towards Afghanistan to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas and achieve a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
He reiterated that there was no military solution to the conflict and expressed hope that Afghan leadership would realise the importance of the occasion and workout a negotiated political settlement. "Peace in Afghanistan will bring stability, economic prosperity and regional connectivity," he added.
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FM Qureshi also underlined the need to engage through agreed diplomatic channels instead of ‘public blame game’, which only serves to vitiate the environment and strengthens the hand of spoilers.
The statement said that the FM Qureshi reaffirmed the importance of utilising the relevant forums including Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) to address all bilateral issues.
Highlighting the importance of border sustenance markets, the foreign minister remarked that the project would contribute to the economic uplift of people living in border areas of the two countries. He urged the Afghan side to expedite its early finalisation.
FM Qureshi also met with Head of Jamiat-e-Islami Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), the FO said.
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Recalling the visit of Rabbani in September 2019 for the Third China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Minister's Dialogue, the foreign minister highlighted the importance of continued engagement at all levels between the two countries.
FM Qureshi underscored that Pakistan attached importance to all ethnic and political groups in Afghanistan. "The Tajik community has been an important part of Afghanistan's social and political fabric," he added.
Qureshi underlined Pakistan's policy of strengthening across the broad engagement with Afghan political leadership and making concerted efforts to help Afghans reach a negotiated political settlement.
Published Date: 19-Jun-2021
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