Khawaja Asif calls for regional consensus to tackle Afghan issue

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif called on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after holding a meeting with his counterpart Javad Zarif earlier on Monday (today), ARY News reported.

According to state radio, the duo exchanged views on latest regional situation and different aspects of the bilateral relations in the backdrop of new US strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia.

Earlier, Asif had emphasised that all regional countries will have to form consensus for joint efforts to settle the Afghan issue while talking to Iranian media after holding a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister.

He added that purpose behind Tehran tour is to reach consensus with the neighboring countries of Afghanistan on matters concerned with recently announced Afghan policy of the United States.

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“Peace in Afghanistan will impose lasting effects on the region,” he said while refusing military solution for the war-torn country.

He opined that American army has failed to deal with Afghan issue, adding that the regional countries should come forward over the matter.

Apparently slamming the US role in Afghanistan, Asif said he would go to Turkey tomorrow (Tuesday) and discuss the matter regarding regional consensus on Afghanistan.

It merits to mention here that Pakistan’s decision to approach regional countries come after US President Donald Trump’s blistering accusations of habouring terrorists on Pakistani soil and prolonging Afghan insurgency while unveiling his new policy for the region.

Last week, Asif had postponed his meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington. Pakistani government also delayed the visit of Alice Wells, acting assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, to Islamabad.