ISLAMABAD – The special representatives for Afghanistan from China, Russia, the United States and Pakistan will participate in the Troika Plus meeting in Islamabad on 11 November 2021.
The meeting will be inaugurated by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said foreign office in a statement.
Pakistan attaches high importance to the Troika Plus mechanism on the situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan hopes that deliberations of the Troika Plus meeting would contribute to the ongoing efforts for achieving lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, it added.
This is the first full-fledged meeting of the Troika Plus after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in mid-August
The last meeting was held in Doha in August this year. The then US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had attended the meeting
Russia hosted a meeting in October, but the US did not participate in it citing “logistics”.
The US has replaced Khalilzad with Tom West and it has express willingness to attend the Troika Plus meeting being hosted by Pakistan.
The Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is set to visit Pakistan from 10-12 November 2021, is expected to attend the Troika Plus meeting.
Muttaqi’s visit is taking place as a follow-up to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s visit to Kabul on 21 October 2021.
‘The exchanges will centre on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations with a particular focus inter aliaon enhanced trade, facilitation of transit trade, cross-border movement, land and aviation links, people-to-people contacts, and regional connectivity.
In view of the prevalent situation, Pakistan has been urging the international community to urgently provide humanitarian assistance and economic support to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people. For its part, Pakistan is extending humanitarian and economic assistance to the brotherly people of Afghanistan.
Pakistan remains committed to supporting a peaceful, stable, sovereign, prosperous and connected Afghanistan.
Read more: https://pakobserver.net/pm-imran-urges-world-to-help-afghanistan-as-wfp-issues-starvation-alert/