ISLAMABAD – Pakistan took a principled stance on the Moscow moot regardingAfghanistan Peace.
Pakistan has called for removing the concerns of neighboring countrieswhile expressing views at the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan inMoscow.
Pakistan delegation was led by Additional Secretary (Afghanistan and WestAsia) Mr. Muhemmed Aejaz. Senior officials from China, Iran and CentralAsian Republics also participated in the meeting. It was first meeting ofthe Moscow Format with participation of Afghan High Peace Councilrepresentatives and Afghan Taliban delegation from its Qatar politicaloffice. India and the United States were present in the meeting asobservers.
Moscow Format was initiated in December 2016. Its membership graduallyincreased to eleven last year. It signifies a growing consensus amongregional countries for jointly promoting peace and reconciliation inAfghanistan. It offers an opportunity to participants to exchange views onthe prevailing situation in Afghanistan and its implications for theregion, in particular for countries bordering Afghanistan.
The participants of the meeting candidly expressed their views aboutdeteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the threat it posed tothe neighboring countries, which have been most affected by the Afghanconflict.
At the meeting, Pakistan delegation highlighted the brotherly sentiments ofthe people of Pakistan for their brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.Pakistan’s positive approach and consistent efforts to promote peace andreconciliation in Afghanistan through initiatives acceptable to the entireAfghan nation and the futility of military intensive approach which hadresulted in colossal human losses and compounded miseries of the people ofAfghanistan was particularly highlighted.