Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said promotion of Pak-US relations and a mutual partnership is essential to ensure peace and stability in the region, including the Afghan peace process.
FM Qureshi was talking to US Charge de Affairs Paul Jones during his farewell visit in Islamabad.
During the meeting, issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations and the overall law and order situation in the region were discussed.
The foreign minister appreciated the services of the US diplomat in further strengthening relations between the two countries.
Jones also praised Pakistan's positive role in the Afghan reconciliation process and for peace and stability in the region.
The FM thanked the US diplomat for the timely assistance provided by the US in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
On August 25, Pakistan cautioned against “spoilers”, who did not want to see peace in Afghanistan, as it urged all parties to seize this “historic opportunity” to put an end to the lingering conflict in the war-ravaged country.
The statement came from FM Qureshi Foreign Minister during a meeting with the Taliban Political Commission (TPC) delegation, headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, at the Foreign Office.
The head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed was also present in the meeting.
The visit of the Taliban delegation comes against the backdrop of efforts for early commencement of intra-Afghan dialogue – a crucial phase of the peace process.
According to a handout issued by the FO, views were exchanged on the current status of the Afghan peace process and the way forward during the meeting.
Welcoming the delegation, Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent stance that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a political settlement was the only way forward.
Highlighting Pakistan’s positive contribution to the peace and reconciliation process, culminating in the US-Taliban peace agreement in Doha on February 29, 2020, the foreign minister urged the Afghan stakeholders to seize this historic opportunity to secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive negotiated political solution.
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