Islamabad, 13 November 2021 (TDI): Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan met the Troika Plus Special Representatives for Afghanistan, who visited him in Islamabad on Friday, 12 November. The Troika Plus consists of China, Russia, the United States, and Pakistan.
The Special Representatives/Envoys of Troika Plus (China, Russia, United States and Pakistan) for Afghanistan called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today.
🇵🇰🇨🇳🇷🇺🇺🇲 pic.twitter.com/JoTt3PGVIs— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) November 12, 2021
To avert the twin challenges of a humanitarian disaster and economic collapse, Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasised the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance and economic help to Afghanistan.
Imran Khan hoped that the international community would grasp the gravity of the situation and take immediate action, such as releasing frozen assets to aid Afghans in their suffering. In this regard, he emphasised the importance of Troika Plus.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of a pragmatic approach and constructive engagement with Afghanistan in order to address shared issues and advance Troika Plus nations’ common interests.
Imran Khan said he has consistently stressed that there is no military solution to the Afghan issue.
In light of the new circumstances, the Prime Minister emphasised the need of inclusivity, human rights respect, and steadfast counter-terrorism efforts.
The Troika Plus
According to the Foreign Office (Pakistan) release, the four participating countries — China, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States — voiced serious concern over Afghanistan’s dire humanitarian and economic condition and reaffirmed their unshakable support for Afghans.
They met in Islamabad on November 11 (Thursday) to discuss the situation in neighboring Afghanistan. This is the Troika Plus’s first full-fleged meeting since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.
The most recent meeting took place on August 11 in Doha, with former special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad representing the US.
On October 19, Russia convened another conference in Moscow, but the US declined due to “logistical reasons.” Later, Khalilzad was replaced by Thomas West, and the United States expressed its willingness to attend Pakistan’s Troika Plus conference in November.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s Special Representative to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq, US State Department’s Special Representative and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan Thomas West, Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Yao Jing.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, speaking at the opening session of the two-day Troika Plus meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said engagement with Afghanistan was critical because no one wanted to see a return to civil war and economic collapse, which would exacerbate instability.
Good to address Troika Plus Meeting in Islamabad today. The meeting reflects our common desire to see a peaceful, stable, unified, sovereign & prosperous Afghanistan; a shared responsibility. Reaffirmed PM @ImranKhanPTI’s resolve to help Afghanistan on its path towards prosperity pic.twitter.com/Gl5WmyoRZn
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) November 11, 2021
