Pakistan wants a ‘responsible withdrawal’ of US troops from Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday, as a major peace agreement was signed between Washington and Taliban.
“We want a responsible withdrawal,” Quereshi said, when asked about the timeframe for departure of US forces. “It’s an important day,” he added. “Hopefully it will set the tone for peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
Foreign Minister Qureshi welcomed the signing of landmark peace agreement, saying it carries immense importance both in symbolism and substance for Afghanistan, the region and beyond.
During media interaction in Doha, he said the peace agreement reflected a significant step forward by the US and the Taliban in advancing the ultimate aim of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. He reiterated that Pakistan will continue its policy of supporting the Afghan people in their efforts to achieve lasting peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. “The peace deal has, once again, vindicated Pakistan’s long-held stance that there is no military solution of the Afghan conflict. Prime Minister Imran Khan has consistently underlined that a political settlement is the only way forward,” he added.
Qureshi underlined that Pakistan has fulfilled its part of the responsibility in terms of facilitating this peace agreement. Pakistan will continue to support a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours, he added.
He also appreciated personal contribution of Amir of Qatar to the whole process. He noted that intra-Afghan negotiations will be the next logical step after the peace agreement. He expressed the hope that the Afghan parties will now seize this historic opportunity and work out a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. He also underlined the need for the international community to recognize that Afghanistan will require support to commence reconstruction and rehabilitation phase.
Redrawing the international community’s attention to Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Qureshi underscored the need to assist the Afghan government in creating an enabling environment for the return of the refugees to their homeland with dignity and honour.
In a meeting with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, Qureshi expressed hopes that the peace deal will pave the way for intra-Afghan dialogue. “Pakistan will continue its efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said, adding that the world will need to help Afghanistan in the rebuilding and restoration of its land.
Khalilzad apprised Qureshi of the latest developments in terms of the Afghan peace deal.
The foreign minister said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is playing an appreciable role for regional development and promotion of trade and economic cooperation among the member countries. In his meeting with Secretary General of the SCO Vladimir Norov on the sidelines of the Afghan peace process conference in Doha, both the sides discussed the Afghan peace, regional development and other matters of mutual interest. He said Pakistan will continue playing its role for regional peace and development.
The SCO secretary general applauded Pakistan’s sincere and reconciliatory efforts for establishment of peace in Afghanistan.
Qureshi said that he will visit the Central Asian States soon as Pakistan desires to strengthen the trade ties with the region. In a meeting with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Mukhriddin in Doha, he said during his visit, he will also discuss the Afghan peace process with the leadership of the respective states. He said Pakistan does not believe in the development of merely a state but the whole region. The promotion of trade ties with the Central Asian States is crucial for Pakistan, he added.
Both the sides discussed the bilateral relations, regional matters as well as Afghan peace process.
Qureshi also met his Indonesian counterpart Ratno Marsudi and discussed bilateral relations, Afghan peace process and ongoing violence in India as well as overall regional situation. During the meeting, Qureshi said Pakistan highly values its bilateral relations with Indonesia.
The Indonesian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process and also assured his country’s cooperation in that regard.
The foreign minister also met his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Søreide in Doha on the sideline of the signing ceremony of the US-Taliban peace deal. Both the foreign ministers appreciated the positive headway in the bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen the ties in the areas of mutual interest.
Foreign Minister Qureshi apprised his Norwegian counterpart on the unilateral Indian actions to revoke the disputed status of Indian-held Kashmir. The Norwegian foreign minister lauded Pakistan’s role for Afghan peace process.
Qureshi also visited the headquarters of Al Jazeera Media Network in Doha and lauded its impartial reporting on the human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir. He interacted with the management of Al Jazeera and also took a round of the headquarters.
Qureshi said Al Jazeera is among the pioneer media houses in the world and its reporting standards are laudable.
Al has Jazeera played an important role in highlighting the real picture of Kashmir and pogrom of Muslims in India, he added.
