Huangshan, 30 March 2022 (TDI): The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi met the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi today at Huangshan on the sidelines of the third Meeting of Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries hosted by China.
Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s complete support for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Afghanistan in the meeting. He highlighted cooperation and collaboration in different areas such as trade, movement of people, and connectivity.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister shared the outcome of the 48th session of the OIC council that took place in Islamabad from 22nd to 23rd March. He informed his counterpart about the support voiced by the OIC member states for Afghanistan and the operationalization of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund and the signing of the Fund’s Charter
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan further stated that Pakistan welcomes the international community’s sustained engagement with Afghanistan in order to promote the goals of a sovereign, stable, and economically robust Afghanistan. The progress of Afghanistan, he believes, would also contribute to regional peace and stability.
The Foreign Minister also added that Pakistan recognizes the Interim Government’s efforts to restore domestic stability in Afghanistan. He emphasized the significance of meeting the international community’s expectations from Afghanistan for inclusion, respect for all Afghans’ human rights, education for females, and action against terrorist groups.
The Pakistani Minister assured the Afghan minister that Pakistan has been urging the international community to take part in solving Afghanistan’s pressing humanitarian needs and ensuring the country’s economic stability.
The two parties concluded the meeting with the agreement to keep in touch and increase the frequency of bilateral contact.
On Pakistan-Afghanistan relations:
Although the two countries have had poor bilateral relations in the past, under the acting Taliban-led Afghan government, the relations between the two countries have been improving. A major factor keeping the relations stable is Pakistan’s vocal support for economic stability in Afghanistan and the demand from the international community to provide aid and assistance for the people in Afghanistan.
Aiman Iqbal is the Managing Editor at the Journal of Peace and Diplomacy published by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), and the Assistant Editor of The Diplomatic Insight magazine. She holds an MPhil in International Relations. She can be reached at aimaniqbal106@gmail.com
