Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Qureshi held a telephone conversation with the United
Nations Secretary-General (UNSG), Anotnio Guterres.
Views were exchanged on a range of issues on the UN agenda
including the COVID-19 situation; economic recovery in the wake of
the pandemic; international debt relief efforts; equitable availability of
vaccines for the developing countries; peacekeeping; Jammu and
Kashmir dispute; and the Afghan peace process.
Lauding the UNSG’s leadership during challenging times, the Foreign
Minister welcomed his availability to serve a second term in office, and
expressed Pakistan’s full support for Antonio Guterres’s re-
appointment for anotherfive-year tenure.
The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to
multilateralism, with a strong UN playing a central role for the delivery
of its mandates that meet the expectations of Member States.
The UNSG valued Pakistan’s constructive contributions towards the
effective functioning of the Organisation in the different areas of its
work, calling Pakistan a “fundamental partner of the United Nations.”
The Secretary General especially lauded Pakistan’s Presidency of the
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the promotion of the
socio-economic development agenda.
Secretary General Guterres briefed the Foreign Minister on UN efforts
with regard to the situation in Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister
underscored Pakistan’s positive contributions to the Afghan peace
process, noting that it is imperative for the concerned parties to seize
the historic opportunity and work together for securing an inclusive,
broad-based and comprehensive political settlement while guarding
against the role of “spoilers.”
The two leaders agreed that the Afghan peace process should be taken
forward through consultations and in a manner that helps establish
durable peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region.
