Japan lauds Pakistan's role for regional peace, Afghan reconciliation

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda on Wednesday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the army’s media wing said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the envoy lauded Pakistan's role for peace and stability in the region particularly Afghan peace process and vowed to further enhance ties with Pakistan.

During the meeting matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed, the ISPR added.

“Pakistan values its relations with Japan and acknowledged its efforts for regional stability,” the army chief was quoted by the ISPR as saying.

Also read: US Secretary of State telephones army chief to discuss drawdown plan

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to General Qamar, who called for "mutual consensus" among all the stakeholders for the Afghan peace process.

During the telephonic conversation "matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including latest developments in Afghan peace process and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed", according to official statement.

President Biden after reviewing the Afghan peace efforts has finally concluded that the US forces would have to withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11 this year.

This means the Biden administration is not going to meet the May 1 deadline, set in the February 29 deal between the US and Afghan Taliban.

The army chief said that Pakistan will always support an “Afghan led-Afghan Owned” peace process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders.