Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan is committed to continue its support
for peace and development efforts in Afghanistan.
He was talking to Russian Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan Zamir
Kabulov who called on him in Islamabad on Friday. The Foreign
Minister appreciated Russia’s efforts at the regional and international
levels for peace in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan and Russia will continue joint efforts for regional
peace and stability, including Afghan peace process.
The Foreign Minister stressed on reduction in violence for success of
intra-Afghan dialogue as it would discourage the spoilers of peace in
Afghanistan.
The Special Representative of the Russian President for Afghanistan,
Zamir Kabulov, thanked the Foreign Minister and assured him of
Russia’s full support for regional security, including the Afghan peace
process.
Meanwhile Head of Massoud Foundation, Ahmed Wali Massoud, called
on Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday. The
exchange of views focused on the Afghan Peace Process and Pakistan-
Afghanistan bilateral relations.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister welcomed Ahmad Wali
Massoud’s visit to Pakistan and lauded the historic contribution of
Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud as a key Mujaheedin leader during
the Afghan resistance.
As regards Afghan peace process, the Foreign Minister highlighted
Pakistan’s facilitation of the U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement and the
commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations. The Foreign Minister
stressed that this historic opportunity must be seized by the Afghan
leaders to achieve an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive
political settlement.
The Foreign Minister expressed serious concern at the current level of
violence and underscored that all sides must take measures for
reduction in violence leading to ceasefire. The Foreign Minister also
underlined the need for being vigilant about the role of “spoilers”.
Highlighting that Pakistan had no favourites in Afghanistan, the
Foreign Minister reiterated that Pakistan’s message to all sides was to
work together constructively for a peaceful, stable and prosperous
Afghanistan. He added that this would open new vistas for trade,
economic cooperation and regional connectivity.
Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted that Pakistan had taken a number
of steps to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and people-to-
people linkages including opening of border despite COVID-19,
introduction of friendly visa regime, and scholarships for Afghan
students. The Foreign Minister emphasized that all these measures
were practical manifestations of Pakistan’s desire for closer ties with
Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister also appreciated the role of Massoud
Foundation in the social sectors and noted that it could play an
important part in promoting civil society and people-to-people
exchanges between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the Afghan peace
process would achieve its desired objective of return of peace and
stability in Afghanistan. He reaffirmed that Pakistan, on its part, will
continue to play a constructive role.
