Islamabad, April 10, 2019 (PPI-OT): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan, Shukrullah Atif Mashal in his office today. During the meeting, bilateral relations and developments in the Afghan peace process were discussed.
The Foreign Minister reaffirmed the importance of strong bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and highlighted that Kabul was the destination of his maiden visit abroad and the most visited capital during his last eight months as Foreign Minister. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Afghan peace process and emphasized the importance of an Intra-Afghan dialogue to lead the way forward to achieve durable peace in the country.
Underscoring the need to further enhance cooperation in all areas, Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the utility of land mark bilateral understanding reached under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), a framework that was needed to be utilized fully on a regular basis.
The Ambassador of Afghanistan appreciated the sincere role of Pakistan in the peace process. He shared the Afghan leadership’s desire for a more regular interaction with the Pakistani leadership. Ambassador Mashal agreed with the Foreign Minister’s suggestion to utilize the APAPPS mechanism more effectively as it provided a valuable platform to build trust.
He emphasized that for Afghanistan there was no alternative to Pakistan and close friendly relations between the two countries was in both the countries’ mutual interest. Foreign Minister Qureshi conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed Afghan Ambassador and hoped that close friendly relations between the two countries would be further strengthened during his tenure.
For more information, contact:
Spokesman
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tell: +92-51-9205494
Fax: +92-51-9204202
Cell: +92-336-5644459
Website: www.mofa.gov.pk