Foreign Secretary reaffirms Pakistan’s steadfast support for Afghan peace process

Islamabad:Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood held wide-ranging consultations through video link with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the State Department David Hale. The two sides reviewed Pakistan-US bilateral relationship, its present trajectory, and future direction.

Sohail Mahmood said Pakistan attaches high priority to its relationship with the United States with a focus on enhanced economic engagement and people-to-people contacts. In the regional context, the two sides shared their perspectives on the progress made in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. The two sides also exchanged views on peace and stability in South Asia. The Foreign Secretary highlighted India’s illegal and unilateral action of 5 August 2019 and its aftermath, focusing in particular on massive human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ and K). He underlined that India’s continuing military siege in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and its aggressive posturing against Pakistan pose a threat to peace and security.