ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday called upon the international community to stand in solidarity with the Afghan people, engage positively, and create incentives to ensure sustainable peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan.
He said that Pakistan had and would continue to play its role for the economic uplift, humanitarian relief and assistance to Afghanistan.
The prime minister was talking to deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who called on him in the federal capital.
During the meeting, views were exchanged on the developments in Afghanistan and diversifying Pakistan-Qatar relations.
The prime minister conveyed warm regards to emir of Qatar, a press release issued by the Prime Minister Media Wing said.
He emphasised that it was vital to stabilise the security situation, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and stabilise the economy in Afghanistan.
Highlighting that Pakistan had suffered enormously due to protracted conflict in Afghanistan, he underscored the importance of a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region.
The prime minister lauded Qatar’s role in support of the Afghan peace process.
In the bilateral context, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen mutually beneficial ties with Qatar.
The prime minister stressed the importance of enhanced collaboration in diverse areas, including trade and investment, energy, and enhancing people-to-people linkages.
The deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar acknowledged Pakistan’s important role as well as efforts for regional peace and stability.
He also underscored Qatar’s commitment to maintain close contact with Pakistan on bilateral and regional matters.
The visiting dignitary also held a meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Later, while addressing a joint press conference, Qureshi said that Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to continue playing a constructive role to avoid any humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Qureshi said both countries share joint vision of peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan. He said that the world community should come forward to extend financial and humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. He added that spoilers should not be given an opportunity to play with the global efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
Earlier, before the arrival of the visiting dignitary, the Foreign Office issued a press release, wherein it said that the “two countries closely collaborate on regional and global issues of common interest.” “Qatar is home to more than 200,000 hardworking Pakistani expatriates contributing to national development and economic progress of both countries,” it added.
Qatar played an outsized role in US efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan. Now the tiny Gulf Arab state is being asked to help shape what is next for Afghanistan because of its ties with both Washington and the Taliban, who are in charge in Kabul.
Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the world’s top diplomats have been beating a path to Doha, long the gateway to the Taliban and now the essential go-between as the West tries to deal with the new Kabul government.
Analysts describe Qatar’s emergence as a broker in Afghanistan as a part of a carefully nurtured strategy by the tiny but rich state to bolster its own security, by becoming indispensable as a venue for international mediation.
In the weeks since the insurgents swept into power, more than 58,000 of the 124,000 Western nationals and at-risk locals who were airlifted out of Afghanistan flew through Qatar.
And now, as a temporary home to the evacuated Afghanistan embassies of the United States and several European allies, it is serving as the main mediator for Western efforts to engage.
An official said that as an impartial mediator, Qatar has engaged with all sides to provide freedom of movement for those in Afghanistan, and “fight terrorism to prevent any future instability in the region”.
Working with its close ally Turkey, it has also helped the Taliban reopen Kabul airport, allowing humanitarian and domestic flights to resume.
