Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, after meeting a delegation of Afghan leaders in Islamabad on Monday, said Pakistan will continue to play its constructive role to support a peaceful, united, and prosperous Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The foreign minister welcomed the delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later discussed with the leaders the situation in Afghanistan — which is gripped by panic following the Taliban entering Kabul and taking control of the presidential palace and President Ashraf Ghani leaving the country.
Lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s interest, emphasized Qureshi, adding that Pakistan was determined to play a constructive and facilitative role in the restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the Afghan leaders would take advantage of international support for peace and reconciliation and work together to deal with the evolving situation in Afghanistan in the supreme national interest of the country and according to the aspiration of people.
“We hope that all Afghan leaders will make efforts [for peace] in the larger interest of the country,” the foreign minister said, stressing that the region could not afford continued instability in Afghanistan which would impact negatively the objective of a peaceful and connected region.
He added that the international community’s continued engagement in the efforts for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan would be important as it was a shared responsibility.
The delegation appreciated the invitation for consultation on the latest situation in Afghanistan and acknowledged Pakistan’s facilitative role. The delegation also underscored commitment to forge long-term relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and to expand the fraternal ties in all areas.
The delegation of the Afghan leaders is visiting Pakistan in view of the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
Earlier, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, the spokesman of the Pakistani foreign ministry, said Pakistan was “closely following” developments in Afghanistan and the Pakistani embassy in Kabul was providing assistance to those needing consular help or passage on flights out of the country.
“Pakistan is closely following the unfolding situation in Afghanistan,” said Chaudhri. “Pakistan will continue to support the efforts for a political settlement. We hope all Afghan sides will work together to resolve this internal political crisis.”
Chaudhri said the Pakistani embassy in Kabul was “extending necessary assistance to Pakistanis, Afghan nationals and the diplomatic and international community for consular work and coordination of [the Pakistani state-owned airline’s] flights”.
A special team has been established at Pakistan’s interior ministry in the capital Islamabad to process visas and other documentation for international diplomatic personnel, United Nations workers, and members of multilateral international organizations and media workers, the foreign ministry said.