Qureshi to discuss Afghan peace in Istanbul meet

Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey will meet on Friday to discuss peace efforts as army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the sole purpose of Islamabad's efforts to have "peaceful, sovereign, democratic, stable and prosperous" Afghanistan.

The trilateral meeting will take place in Turkey after key conference on Afghanistan peace efforts was postponed for the second time after the Taliban refused to be part of the process.

As the efforts are underway to convince the Taliban, Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah Ali Khil called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

"During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including Afghan peace process, enhanced bilateral security and defence cooperation and effective border management between the two brotherly countries were discussed," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The COAS reiterated that peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan. "Our sole aim is helping Afghans achieve a peaceful, sovereign, democratic, stable and prosperous Afghanistan," Gen Qamar was quoted as saying by the military’s media wing.

"Visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s contributions for conflict prevention in the region and relentless support provided in the Afghan peace process," the statement added.

Meanwhile, Foreign office spokesperson Zahid Hafiz Chaudhri during weekly briefing said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will undertake a two-day official visit to Turkey on April 23 (Friday) on the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

During the visit, Qureshi will have bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. He will also participate in a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan, the spokesperson said.

During the bilateral talks, the two foreign ministers will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discuss preparations for the 7th Session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which will be held in Turkey this year. The two sides will also discuss the regional security situation.

In the trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Afghanistan, Qureshi will discuss the latest developments in the Afghan peace process, exchange views on achieving the shared objectives of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process and highlight Pakistan’s valuable efforts towards this end.

"The fraternal relations between Pakistan and Turkey are deeply embedded in common faith, culture and history and underpinned by exceptional mutual trust and respect," the FO spokesperson said.

FM Qureshi’s visit to Turkey is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries. The Turkish foreign minister visited Pakistan in January 2021 and the two foreign ministers also met on March 29 on the sidelines of 9th session of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.