FM, Australian counterpart discuss Afghan situation

Canberra’s special representative on Afghanistan holds talks with foreign secretary

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne telephoned Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday and discussed with him bilateral and regional issues, as her country’s special representative on Afghanistan Daniel Sloper visited Islamabad.

The Foreign Office said in a statement that Foreign Minister Qureshi received the telephone call from Payne and added that the two ministers discussed the whole range of issues relating to bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

It said that Qureshi briefed his counterpart on Pakistan’s constructive role in support of efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. He underscored the importance of inclusion, continued engagement of the international community with Afghanistan and urgent steps for needed humanitarian assistance Kabul.

Qureshi, while appreciating the steady progress in multi-dimensional bilateral relations over the years, “reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong desire and commitment to consolidate and further enhance cooperation in diverse fields in line with our shared objectives of peace and development”, the statement continued.

“The foreign minister also took up the issue of Pakistani students enrolled in different Australian universities, who have not been able to travel to Australia due to Covid-19 restrictions and sought Australia’s cooperation to facilitate their early return,” it added.

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Foreign Minister Payne conveyed her country’s profound gratitude for Pakistan’s facilitative role in safe evacuation of its nationals and others from Afghanistan, and reciprocated the desire for further strengthening of bilateral relations.

The telephone call came as Australia’s Special Representative on Afghanistan met Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood for talks on the latest developments in Afghanistan and the way forward, according to a separate Foreign Office statement.

Secretary Mahmood, while highlighting that the latest situation in Afghanistan provided an opportunity to end the 40-year long conflict in the country, underscored the importance of the international community’s sustained engagement to help promote the shared objectives of a peaceful Afghanistan.

The foreign secretary pointed towards the humanitarian and economic challenges in Afghanistan and stressed the need for immediate steps to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people. “The release of Afghanistan’s financial assets was another step that would be helpful in this regard,” he noted.

The foreign secretary highlighted the steps taken by Pakistan to provide humanitarian assistance, promote bilateral trade and economic cooperation, regulate cross-border movement of people, foster further coordination among Afghanistan’s neighbours, and advance the regional connectivity projects.

Sharing Australia’s viewpoint on different aspects of the Afghanistan situation, Special Representative Sloper concurred with the need for sustained engagement and highlighted the steps taken to help address the humanitarian situation, the statement added.