Foreign Minister’s telephone call with Foreign Minister of Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a telephone call with Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar today. During the call, matters of mutual interest came under discussion.
Highlighting Pakistan’s policy to strengthen trade between the two countries, Foreign Minister Qureshi drew Foreign Minister Atmar’s attention towards the proposed establishment of Border Sustenance Markets.
Foreign Minister
Haneef Atmar’s
He underlined that it was a unique initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan to boost local trade and economic activity in the border regions. The Foreign Minister expressed hope for the earliest finalization of the MoU.
Reiterating Pakistan’s consistent support to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underlined that the Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN) provided a historic opportunity for the Afghan leadership to achieve an inclusive, broad-based, and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister expressed concern about the high level of violence in Afghanistan and emphasized progress in the IAN, facilitating a reduction in violence, leading to the ceasefire.
During the call, Foreign Minister Qureshi also raised Pakistani prisoners who had been languishing in Afghan jails over minor crimes. He expressed the hope that prisoners would be released as per the Presidential decree, providing them an opportunity to return to their families.
The Intra-Afghan Negotiations had provided a window of opportunity for the return of lasting peace in Afghanistan.
Pakistan had always held no military solution to the Afghan conflict, and a political settlement was the only way forward. Pakistan would continue to play its positive role towards supporting the Afghan Peace Process and strengthening bilateral relations with Afghanistan.
