Staff Reporter Islamabad
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday received his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, at the Foreign Office during the latter’s brief visit to Islamabad.
In a statement, the FO said that Qureshi underlined the importance of regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Germany and maintaining a steady upward trajectory in the relationship.
“The two foreign ministers reviewed bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qureshi underscored the importance of enhancing mutual cooperation, and collaboration to combat the pandemic in a holistic manner.
He thanked the German side for its efforts to ensure earliest possible provision of vaccine through the COVAX initiative,” the statement said.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s shifting focus from geo-politics to geo-economics. The statement noted that both countries enjoyed cordial relations based on shared interests and the two foreign ministers have regularly interacted at the bilateral and international levels and forums.
The Afghan peace process was also discussed during the meeting. Qureshi apprised his German counterpart on Pakistan’s “steadfast support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan” and “positive contributions to the Afghan peace process,” the
statement said.
“He underscored the importance of a responsible withdrawal and steady progress by the Afghan parties towards a negotiated political settlement.
He added that all efforts must be made for [the] reduction of violence leading to [a] ceasefire.
“The foreign minister stressed that the Afghan stakeholders must engage constructively to work out an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution, through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process,” said the Foreign Office
statement.
