Afghan leaders should seize current historic opportunity: FM Qureshi urges Afghanistan to achieve political settlement at earliest

The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the Afghan leadership to achieve a negotiated political settlement at the earliest as United States forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

FM Qureshi held a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Haneef Atmar on Tuesday on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Dushanbe, according to a statement issued by Foreign Office.

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During the meeting, the Foreign Minister has reaffirmed the consistent support of Pakistan to a peaceful and united Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours. He said that Afghan leaders should seize the current “historic opportunity” and take advantage of international convergence on the final settlement of the Afghan conflict by working together on an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi also expressed concern over high levels of violence in Afghanistan which has resulted in the loss of many lives and emphasised the need to take immediate steps to decrease violence, leading to a comprehensive ceasefire. He also urged Haneef Atmar to address all concerns through established institutional mechanisms, including APAPPS.

“Pakistan looked forward to hosting review meeting of APAPPS in Islamabad at the earliest,” he said, adding that Pakistan supports a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, which would yield mutual dividends and benefits in terms of peace in the region, economic prosperity and regional connectivity.