ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasised “close coordination” among Afghanistan’s neighbouring nations to ensure greater peace and stability in the region.
During a phone call with his Iran counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on Tuesday, Qureshi discussed the overall regional security situation.
Abdollahian said Tehran fully supported Pakistan’s initiative for a regional approach to Afghanistan.
“Foreign Minister Qureshi thanked his Iranian counterpart for the invitation and expressed the hope that the meeting would impart further impetus to the regional approach on the situation in Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“He emphasized that close coordination was essential to help Afghanistan on the path to peace, stability and development.”
Qureshi emphasised that sustained international engagement was essential in view of the evolving economic situation in Afghanistan.
“He expressed the hope that the international community would ramp up the provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis, in view of the upcoming winter season, and take steps to ensure economic stability in the country,” the statement added.
The first ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries was held in September after Pakistan urged China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to come together and discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
The ministerial meeting was also preceded by a virtual meeting of the special representatives and envoys of the six neighbouring states for Afghanistan.
Abdollahian also invited Pakistan to participate in the second ministerial meeting of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan which is scheduled to be held in Tehran next week.
