Pakistan wants peace in the region: FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said it is utmost effort of Pakistan that the Afghan peace process resumes and reaches its logical conclusion to cultivate the benefits of peace and prosperity in the region.

Addressing a ceremony, he termed his meeting with the Afghan Taliban today as positive and satisfactory.

The Foreign Minister also warned against the spoilers saying there are certain elements who do not want peace and stability in the region especially Pakistan.

He said these are the elements who cannot see Pakistan making progress on the economic front.

The Foreign Minister said the Afghan people have been rendering sacrifices over the past forty years.

He said Pakistan has also suffered immensely because of instability in the neighboring country.

He said Pakistan continues to host 2.7 million Afghan refugees.

The Foreign Minister noted that peace in Afghanistan will help create immense economic opportunities.

This will help us attract investment and create job opportunities for our youth.

Earlier, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban have agreed on the need for earliest resumption of the Afghan peace process.

The understanding came at a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and a delegation of the Taliban Political Commission led by its head Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha, in Islamabad.

The FM reiterated Pakistan’s commitment and continued strong support for all efforts in this regard.

He said Pakistan will continue to support all efforts to achieve permanent peace in Afghanistan, which is essential for Pakistan’s own socio-economic development and progress.

It was emphasized that reduction of violence by all parties to the conflict is necessary to provide an enabling environment for resumption of the peace process at an early date.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the direct Taliban-US talks since last year, strongly and sincerely supported by Pakistan, have now laid a firm ground for achieving a sustainable peace deal in Afghanistan.

While appreciating Taliban’s serious engagement in the peace process, the Foreign Minister underscored the need to take these efforts to their logical conclusion.

He expressed the hope that the currently paused peace process would be restarted at an early date.