Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Iran’s Special Envoy on Afghanistan Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian Fard on Thursday met here and discussed the Afghan peace process besides the security situation in the region.
According to press release issued by foreign office the Foreign Minister highlighted salient aspects of Pakistan’s consistent policy on Afghanistan. Emphasizing that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underscored that only a negotiated political settlement, through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process, would help achieve the desired objective of sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed concern on high level of violence and emphasized the need for reduction in violence leading to corresponding ceasefire. He added that continuation of violence would strengthen the hands of spoilers who did not wish to see return of peace in the region. The Foreign Minister urged that it was important for the Afghan parties to seize this opportunity and leverage the international support for the peace process.
Highlighting that both Pakistan and Iran have suffered due to instability in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister stressed close coordination between the two countries. The Foreign Minister congratulated President-elect Ayatollah Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi on his victory and reaffirmed commitment to further increase bilateral relations in all areas. Iran’s Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister for Afghanistan is on a two-day visit to Pakistan.
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