PM highlights importance of int’l economic engagement with Afghanistan

Premier holds telephonic conversation with Tajik president; two leaders also exchange views on bilateral cooperation

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday highlighted the "immediate" importance of economic engagement with Afghanistan to prevent economic meltdown and to alleviate the sufferings of common people, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

The premier expressed these views during a telephonic conversation with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan. PM Imran thanked President Rahmon for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their recent visit to Dushanbe on September 16-17.

According to PMO, the two leaders exchanged views on the follow-up to the talks held in Dushanbe last month. Both expressed satisfaction on the existing level of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed the resolve to continue mutual efforts to further strengthen close ties, it added.

Read more: Pakistan hands over more humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

On the occasion, PM Imran shared with President Rahmon Pakistan’s contribution to efforts for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan. He underlined the importance of national reconciliation in this context.

Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI held telephonic conversation with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan today.🇵🇰📞🇹🇯 pic.twitter.com/fQfIn60MHI

— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) October 2, 2021

The statement said that the prime minister underscored the urgent imperative to address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. He emphasised the important role of the international community in providing necessary humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, it added.

The premier also highlighted the immediate importance of economic engagement with Afghanistan to prevent economic meltdown and to alleviate the sufferings of the common people.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact with a view to further coordinating their efforts in support of peace and stability in Afghanistan, the PMO statement further said.

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Besides its own ongoing efforts, Pakistan has also been urging the international community to extend humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for the socioeconomic development of the war-torn country.

In their multiple interactions with world leaders, both Prime Minister Imran and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have asked the world community not to repeat the mistake of abandoning Afghanistan as it would lead to negative consequences of rise in terror incidents and spillover negative effects into neighbouring countries.

Earlier today, Pakistan handed over another consignment of aid to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border as a humanitarian crisis looms over Afghanistan after the US froze the new government's assets.

According to a statement, the Pakistani government sent six trucks full of flour, rice, and pulses to Afghanistan under the Pak-Afghan Cooperation Forum.

The aid was handed over by Landi Kotal Assistant Commissioner Akber Iftikhar to Ghaziullah Hashmi, the in-charge of the Torkham border crossing. The statement said that the Afghan authorities expressed their gratitude for the aid.

On Wednesday, four trucks carrying 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid were handed over to Afghanistan. The trucks were carrying flour, sugar, rice, oil and pulses.