Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday called on the Afghan leadership to make “serious efforts” to ensure that the Afghan Peace Process is taken to its logical conclusion.
The foreign minister made these remark as he welcomed High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Chairman Dr Abdullah Abdullah at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We respect Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Qureshi said.
The foreign minister said that the world has today acknowledged Pakistan’s stance on the problems faced by Afghanistan. “Pakistan supports a peaceful and lasting political solution for Afghanistan through acceptable dialogue,” said Qureshi.
Qureshi, while talking about Afghan refugees present in Pakistan, said Pakistan wants the “dignified repatriation” of Afghans living in Pakistan.
Qureshi said the US-Taliban peace agreement and later the intra Afghan dialogue held in Doha have raised the prospects of durable peace in Afghanistan.
He said, “We will also have to keep an eye on the spoilers who do not want peace and stability in the region.” He reiterated that Pakistan respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan, and wants to develop strong economic cooperation with the neighbouring country.
He also told the visiting dignitary that Pakistan will continue “playing a conciliatory role sincerely” in the Afghan peace process. He added that Pakistan believes that peace in Afghanistan is essential for the development of the region, and warned that Afghan leaders will have to focus on the “miscreants” who try to derail the Afghan peace process.
Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah commended conciliatory and sincere efforts being made by Pakistan in the Afghan peace process.
Dr Abdullah arrived in Islamabad on his three-day official visit as efforts are under way to seek a political end to the two-decade-long conflict in Afghanistan.
Adviser on Commerce Razak Dawood and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq received him at Nur Khan Airbase.
Abdullah Abdullah is accompanied by a high-level delegation including prominent members of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
