PM vows all-out humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan assured the visiting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of Pakistan’s all-out humanitarian assistance and urged the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility of preventing a grave humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.

The prime minister met Muttaqi, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan. He said that Pakistan always stood with the Afghan people. The prime minister said in a tweet after the meeting that Pakistan would provide anti-Covid vaccine to the Afghans, who travel to Pakistan.

“We have assured Afghan Acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi & his delegation we will provide all possible humanitarian aid to Afghanistan,” the prime minister tweeted. “Pakistan will also provide free Covid-19 vaccines to all Afghans travelling across the border into Pakistan,” he added.

The prime minister also urged the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis confronting the people of Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Muttaqi is visiting Pakistan, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including industry and finance ministers besides the deputy minister of aviation. Earlier in the day, Muttaqi interacted with the special envoys under the Troika Plus format, besides held bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The meeting between Qureshi and the Afghan delegation was also attended by Aviation Minister Sarwar Khan, advisers on finance and commerce, Shaukat Tarin and Razak Dawood, and senior officials. The talks followed meetings of bilateral working groups on trade, transit, finance and aviation.

During the meeting, Qureshi underlined Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan. He highlighted Pakistan’s continuing efforts for facilitating humanitarian assistance and economic support to Afghanistan, the Foreign Office said.

Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas. He emphasised that peace in Afghanistan would help strengthen regional stability, spur economic activity, and connectivity.

During the meeting, outcomes of the discussions of the working groups on strengthening bilateral and transit trade regime and facilitating movement of people by land and air were shared. Pakistan offered technical assistance in a range of areas and shared a number of proposals.

Muttaqi thanked Pakistan for its continued support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and particularly for hosting millions of refugees for the last four decades.

He assured full cooperation in strengthening fraternal cooperative ties for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)