Special envoys from the United States, Russia and China meet in Islamabad to discuss Afghanistan
Pakistan hosted talks with special envoys from the United States, Russia and China to discuss the path forward for Afghanistan to avert a deepening humanitarian crisis and ensure peace and stability in the region.
The ‘Troika Plus’ meeting on Afghanistan was held in Islamabad on November 11.
Speaking at the meeting, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged for “engagement with Afghanistan” since “Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability; everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and; we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis.”
All four countries have common concerns related to Afghanistan and have a shared interest in the country’s peace and stability which calls for shared responsibility, he said.
“The Troika Plus has assumed greater significance and has a critical role to play… [in] engagement with the new Afghan government [which] will help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan.”
The meeting was led by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong, US Special Representative Thomas West and Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi who is also in Islamabad on an official visit was not present in the ‘Troika Plus’ meeting but is expected to meet the delegates later.
Dialogue and engagemnet with Afghan government
Pakistan foreign minister warned that “Afghanistan stands at the brink of an economic collapse” which makes it “imperative for the international community to buttress provision of humanitarian assistance” to meet the urgent needs of the Afghans.
Being an immediate neighbor, Pakistan has a direct stake in Afghanistan’s peace and stability. Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism, he said.
Pakistan considers dialogue and engagemnet with Afghan interim government as “an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict.” During the interactions with foreign officials, “Pakistan’s consistent message to the international community and the new Afghan government has been to remain engaged and find a mutually agreed way forward.”
Pakistan to ‘provide all possible humanitarian aid’ to Afghanistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that Pakistan has assured Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister that Islamabad “will provide all possible humanitarian aid” to its neighbour.
The PM announced that Pakistan will be “sending essential food items, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters to provide immediate relief to the Afghan people”.