ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Afghan peace process and said that “achieving a peaceful political solution in Afghanistan was the shared responsibility of all Afghan parties as well as the key international and regional stakeholders.”
Foreign Minister Qureshi was talking to his US counterpart Antony Blinken by telephone on Sunday.
A Department of State statement said: “Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and highlighted the importance of continued cooperation on the Afghan peace process, Pakistan’s progress on countering terrorism, and the potential to expand our trade and commercial ties and to improve regional connectivity in South Asia.”
Meanwhile, a Pakistan Foreign Office statement said that Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s desire for a broad-based and comprehensive partnership with the United States that was anchored in close economic cooperation, enhanced regional connectivity and common vision for a peaceful South Asia.
Foreign Minister Qureshi and Secretary Blinken agreed to stay in touch and work together on advancing the two countries’ shared bilateral and regional interests.
Underscoring the importance of responsible withdrawal, the foreign minister stressed that reduction in violence, permanent ceasefire, and seizing this historic opportunity to secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement was indispensable.
Foreign Minister Qureshi informed Secretary Blinken of Pakistani people’s deep concern and anguish on the worsening humanitarian situation in the Israeli Occupied Palestinian Territories.
He also underscored the importance of US role in ensuring peace and facilitating a just solution.
