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ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Qureshi has urged the world community to stay engaged
with Afghanistan for peace and stability there.
Addressing a joint news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday along
with his German counterpart Heiko Maas after delegation level talks,
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said humanitarian assistance must flow and
economic collapse of Afghanistan must not be allowed.
The Foreign Minister warned against repeating mistakes of the past
saying abandoning Afghanistan is not an option as it will have serious
consequences.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the world should remain vigilant of
spoilers in Afghanistan. He said the international community has to
discern between those standing for peace and the spoilers.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan has been hosting over three million
Afghan refugees for decades. We have been providing them with
education and health care facilities as well as livelihood opportunities.
He emphasized the need for creating such an environment in
Afghanistan so that the need for another exodus does not arise again.
Commenting on the collapse of Ghani government, Shah Mahmood
Qureshi said they were not speaking the truth on the actual situation
in Afghanistan. He said Ashraf Ghani finally fled along with his aides
and colleagues.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said recent statements made by the Taliban
are encouraging and positive. He said they will have to act on the
pronouncements and respect the human rights and international
norms.
The German Foreign Minister in his remarks expressed his gratitude to
Pakistan for playing a significant role in evacuation of foreign nationals
including Germans from Kabul.
He said Germany stands ready to support the neighboring countries of
Afghanistan experiencing the impact of Afghan situation. He said his
country will not abandon them in facing the challenges. He said we
have already provided one hundred million euros in humanitarian
assistance and five hundred million euros have also been pledged for
various projects in neighboring countries of Afghanistan.
He said Germany is closely coordinating with Pakistan on Afghan issue
as well as bilateral relations.
As regards bilateral relations, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi
expressed the desire to further deepen relations with Germany in
different fields.
He said both the countries have planned a number of activities to
celebrate seventy years of establishment of diplomatic relations this
year. He pointed out that Germany has been an important investor in
Pakistan and there are opportunities to further enhance trade and
promote relations in the areas of renewable energy, Information
Technology, Housing, electric vehicles etc. He said there are also
opportunities for German investors in Special Economic Zones being
established under the CPEC.
The Foreign Minister also expressed satisfaction over the defense
cooperation between the two countries.
Earlier on arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Foreign
Minister planted a sapling at the lawn of the premises.
