Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says the engagement with Afghanistanmust not only continue but should be enhanced for multiple reasons.
Addressing a Troika Plus Meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, he said nobodywishes to see a relapse into civil war; no one wants an economic collapsethat will spur instability; everyone wants terrorist elements operatinginside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and; we all want to prevent anew refugee crisis.
The Minister said all of us have common concerns related to Afghanistan andalso have a shared interest in the country’s peace and stability. And tobring that about, is a shared responsibility.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed confidence that Troika Plus’s engagementwith the new Afghan government will help consolidate peace and stability,promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space forterrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan.
He said today, Afghanistan stands at the brink of an economic collapse. Itis, therefore, imperative for the international community to buttressprovision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis. He said health,education and municipal services require urgent attention.
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The Foreign Minister said being an immediate neighbor, Pakistan has adirect stake in Afghanistan’s peace and stability.
He said located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades ofconflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism.
He said I reaffirm my Prime Minister’s resolve to help Afghanistan on itspath towards peace, progress and prosperity.
