Islamabad, 27 August 2021 (TDI): On August 26, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi completed his recent visit to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan had specially directed Minister Qureshi to this highly important and timely trip to the four neighboring nations of Afghanistan to develop a unified strategy to face the dynamic challenges to the security, stability, and development of Afghanistan, the region, and beyond.
Foreign Minister Qureshi started his journey on August 24 and arrived at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Foreign Minister Qureshi was received by Farhad Saleem, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Imran Haider, and senior officials of the Pakistani Embassy. The other day the Foreign Minister Qureshi had also a meeting with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
On August 25, the Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Emomali Rakhmon, the Tajik President at the Presidential Palace. The Foreign Minister Qureshi extended best wishes from the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Tajik President. Not only did Qureshi informed the Tajik leaders about Islamabad’s take, of an all-inclusive political set up in Afghanistan, on the recent situation in Kabul but also urged for an approach of coordination to achieve common interests of a secure, serene, stable, and integrated region with the essential assistance of the world community. Islamabad appreciated the leading role of Tajikistan during its Presidency of SCO.
After culminating the first phase of his four-state visit, Shah Mahmood Qureshi left for Uzbekistan where he was received by his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulaziz Kamilov. The two leaders discussed regional affairs with a special focus on Kabul. Both the leaders agreed for enhancing the common interests of a secure, booming, and integrated region. The two countries would act upon the agreements that were formulated during the latest trip of Imran Khan. Qureshi also offered the heartiest greetings of Imran Khan, to the Uzbek President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whom Qureshi met in Tashkent. The two leaders seemed optimistic for achieving a comprehensive political setting in Kabul, which would ensure multidimensional success for the region through improved trade and economic relations.
On August 26, the third phase of his trip, Foreign Minister Qureshi arrived at Ashgabad, Turkmenistan. The Foreign Minister Qureshi was welcomed by Irfan Ahmed, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan along with senior Turkmen Foreign Ministry officials. At the Foreign Ministry in Turkmenistan, the delegations of the two states talked about multi-dimensional relations between the two countries. The Foreign Minister Qureshi also had a session with President Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov. Both the leaders recalled the deeply rooted friendly relations between the two countries. The Foreign Minister Qureshi re-emphasized Islamabad’s commitment to increase economic ties through multiple projects including TAPI. The Foreign Minister Qureshi also stressed that peace and stability in Kabul were indispensable for the region.
Lastly, in the final phase of his four-nation visit, Qureshi landed in the Iranian capital Tehran. At the Foreign Office in Tehran, Qureshi was received by his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian. He extended his best wishes to his Iranian counterpart on the assumption of the office. Two leaders had a detailed discussion on Afghanistan’s current situations and regional peace, security, and stability. They agreed on an approach of coordination for an all-inclusive political setup in Kabul. Qureshi said that the greater economic integration, progress, and connectivity were directly linked with the peace in Afghanistan. He also invited his counterpart to visit Pakistan to further strengthen the relations between Tehran and Islamabad.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi also had a privileged session with the Iranian President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi. He delivered the heartiest greetings including an invitation by Imran Khan to the Iranian President. Qureshi had a detailed discussion with the Iranian President on the prevailing situation of Kabul. He shared Pakistan’s approach of coordination among all neighboring countries of Kabul for security and stability in Afghanistan. From Tehran, the Foreign Minister Qureshi returned home to culminate his four-nation tour.
