Iran ‘fully supports’ Pakistan’s regional approach on Afghanistan

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday received a telephone call from his Iranian counterpart Dr Hossein Amir Abdollahian and exchanged views on the regional security situation, particularly Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Dr Abdollahian invited Qureshi to participate in the second ministerial meeting of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, to be held in Tehran next week, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

During the conversation, the Iranian FM stressed that Iran fully supported Pakistan’s initiative for a regional approach on Afghanistan.

FM Qureshi thanked his Iranian counterpart for the invitation and expressed the hope that the meeting would impart further impetus to the regional approach on the situation in Afghanistan, the statement added.

Also read: Pakistan, Iran have direct stake in Afghanistan’s peace, stability: PM

Qureshi emphasised that close coordination was essential to help Afghanistan on the path to peace, stability and development.

The foreign minister underlined that sustained international engagement is essential in view of the evolving economic situation in Afghanistan.

He expressed the hope that the international community would ramp up the provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis, in view of the upcoming winter season, and take steps to ensure economic stability in the country.

At the initiative of Pakistan, the first virtual ministerial meeting of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan was held on September 8 at which a joint statement was unanimously adopted.

The foreign ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated. The ministerial meeting was preceded by the virtual meeting of the special representatives/ envoys of the six neighbouring countries, read the communiqué.