FM Qureshi, Afghan president discuss bilateral ties, security

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday traveled to Kabul on a daylong visit to hold bilateral talks with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and other senior officials.

This is his first foreign visit since he assumed office of the chief diplomat of Pakistan on Aug 20.

Mr Qureshi held one on one meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul. They discussed bilateral relations as well as the issues of regional peace and security.

Meanwhile, delegation level talks were  held between the FM and his Afghan counterpart during which they discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional peace and security issues.

The statement issued after the meeting said the two sides discussed security, regional peace and stability, joint fight against terrorism, and other issues related to Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity.

The foreign minister also held a meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah and held delegation-level talks with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani. The Afghan president was also present in the talks.

Talking to the Afghan counterpart, Qureshi stressed that both Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to work together to tackle challenges being faced by both the countries. He said there is great potential to further bolster relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Afghan governemt’t efforts to bring lasting peace in the country. He assured the Afghan leadership that Pakistan, along with other partners of Afghanistan, remained ready to play constructive role in facilitating an Afghan-led and owned peace process and reconciliation.

FM Qureshi underscored the importance of cooperation and coordination between the two countries in the areas of counter-terrorism and security and offered to train Afghan police and law enforcement agencies in Pakistani institutions.

He emphasised to maintain the upward trajectory in bilateral relations between the two countries through more high-level visits during the upcoming months.

The two foreign ministers agreed on meetings of Joint Economic Commission, Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority, Steering Committee of the Joint Ulema Conference, and the working groups of APAPPS.

They also agreed to expedite matters related to providing necessary security to Pakistan consulate-general in Jalalabad to ensure its early operationalisation. Shah Mehmood Qureshi also invited President Ghani to visit Pakistan.

In his remarks, the Afghan foreign minister said peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan is vital for regional peace. He added his country desires cordial relations with all the neighboring countries including Pakistan.

“FM Qureshi l+eft for Kabul on his first foreign visit abroad underlining the importance government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability,” Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal tweeted shortly after the FM left for Kabul.

FM Qureshi left for Kabul on his first foreign visit abroad underlining the importance government attaches to work closely with Afghanistan for regional peace and stability

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) September 15, 2018

He added: “Successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation including APAPPS, APTTCA, JEC etc.”

Successful outcome of the visit will lead future efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation under bilateral frameworks of cooperation including APAPPS, APTTCA, JEC etc.

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) September 15, 2018

Qureshi is visiting Afghanistan at the initiation of his Afghan counterpart.

On Sept 3, Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani had telephoned Qureshi to felicitate him on assuming office of foreign minister and extended him an invitation to visit Kabul.