FM Qureshi urges int’l community to provide assistance to Afghanistan

FM hopes that Afghan authorities will take into account the expectations of the regional countries

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday again urged the international community to provide unconditional humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

The foreign minister’s resolve came while he was addressing the third meeting of ‘Foreign Ministers of Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan’ in China.

“We are confident that our bilateral communication will continue,” the FM said. “We hope that the Afghan authorities will take into account the expectations of the regional countries and implement the additional proposed measures.”

The country's top diplomat added that our long-standing connectivity projects would be completed with the support of the international community.

Highlighting key aspects of his discourse, Qureshi said that emphasis was placed on strengthening the regional perspective where the practical engagement of the international community with Afghanistan was also highlighted.

During the moot, regional countries reiterated their support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and expressed some expectations from Afghan officials to maintain ties.

Read More: Qureshi arrives in China for ministerial moot on Afghanistan

FM Qureshi also called for assisting Afghanistan so it could ‘stand on its own feet’.

“There is a historic opportunity after forty years of conflict to finally establish sustainable peace in Afghanistan. The process could be consolidated by working together in a constructive partnership,” he said.

He said that for the immediate humanitarian question, we need to think of long term economic sustainability and development.

“The lives of the ordinary Afghans will not improve until the wheels of commerce and industry are allowed to spin,” he said.

The FM further added only a viable and prosperous Afghanistan, in the long run, would serve as a trade and energy corridor for the entire region.

He stressed that the promotion of regional connectivity and energy projects in Afghanistan should remain the cherished goals.

“Frozen Afghan foreign bank reserves belong to the Afghan nation and their utilization should be the sovereign decision of Afghanistan,” the FM said adding that Pakistan would continue to support Afghanistan's access to its frozen assets so that these precious resources can be utilized for the welfare of Afghans.

“Lingering question of recognition of the interim Afghan government cannot be left unaddressed for much longer. It is imperative that the international community particularly the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan consider how to move forward on developing consensus on recognition in a phased manner,” the FM stressed.

The foreign minister also urged the Afghan authorities to keep taking positive measures including allowing girls' access to education and promoting of human rights which would help in further promoting international engagement and access to needed financial resources.