‘Blame game won’t serve region’, Qureshi tells Afghan counterpart

On SCO-CFM sidelines, foreign minister urges Afghan leaders to ‘negotiate political settlement at the earliest’

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that negative statements could not cloud Pakistan’s positive contributions to the Afghan peace process and “blame game would not serve the region”.

He made these remarks in a meeting with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe.

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s destinies are inter-twined. We believe working together will help us realise stronger regional connectivity and greater people-centric linkages. I look forward to receiving @MHaneefAtmar in Islamabad to continue our collective efforts. 🇵🇰 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/5xoKA4u9JX

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) July 13, 2021

During the meeting, views were exchanged on the latest developments in Afghanistan and the way forward, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

FM Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent support to a peaceful and united Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours.

Also read: Pakistan will continue playing facilitatory role for Afghan peace: FM

In view of the withdrawal of international forces from the war-torn country, the foreign minister urged the Afghan leaders to achieve a negotiated political settlement at the earliest, adding that such an outcome would bring peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Qureshi remarked that the Afghan leaders should seize the historic opportunity and take advantage of international convergence on the final settlement of the Afghan conflict by working together an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

The path ahead is ultimately determined by Afghan leaders from whom flexibility is essential to achieve a negotiated settlement and any blame games are detrimental to peace process. Neither 🇵🇰 nor the int’l community nor indeed people of 🇦🇫 wish for a repeat of civil war. https://t.co/SZZLkB4bjN

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) July 13, 2021

The Foreign Minister expressed concern over the high level of violence, which has resulted in innumerable loss of lives. He emphasised immediate steps to decrease violence, leading to comprehensive ceasefire.

Highlighting that negative statements could not cloud Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process, and that blame game would not serve the region, the foreign minister urged his Afghan counterpart to address all concerns through established institutional mechanisms, including APAPPS.

He said that Pakistan looked forward to hosting review meeting of APAPPS in Islamabad at the earliest.

“Pakistan supports a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, which would yield mutual dividends and benefits in terms of peace in the region, economic prosperity and regional connectivity,” he added.