ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has stressed theimportance of a broad-based and structured relationship between Pakistanand the United States for promoting the two countries’ shared interests.
He expressed these views while talking to a bipartisan group of USlawmakers led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on the sidelines of theMunich Security Conference in Germany.
He observed that Pakistan looks forward to enhancing cooperation with theUnited States in trade, energy and business sectors.
The Foreign Minister said his government is pursuing an ambitious domesticagenda of reform and people-centric development, which is contingent onpeace and stability in Pakistan’s neighborhood.
About Afghanistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan wants to see returnof peace to Afghanistan and added that there is no military solution to theAfghan conflict.
The Foreign Minister welcomed recent progress in the Afghan peace process,but stressed that a final settlement would remain elusive without theownership of all Afghan parties as well as the broader region.
Senator Graham appreciated Pakistan’s support for peace in Afghanistan,noting that the progress made in last month’s Doha talks would not havebeen possible without Pakistan’s assistance.
Recalling his recent visit to Pakistan, the Senator said that he had beenimpressed by the successes Pakistan achieved in its fight against terrorism.
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He endorsed the Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s desire for a strategic andcomprehensive partnership between Pakistan and the United States andstressed upon establishing a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
Meanwhile, addressing a Panel Discussion on “Update on Afghanistan” duringthe Munich Security Conference, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan hassincerely responded to the US request for facilitating the peace andreconciliation process in Afghanistan that led to direct US-Taliban talksin Abu Dhabi and Doha.
He said Pakistan desires to see a genuine and inclusive peace andreconciliation process with full Afghan ownership.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi briefed the audience about Prime Minister Imran Khan’slong-standing vision for a peaceful settlement to Afghan conflict andopposition to finding a military solution.
The Foreign Minister said no country other than Pakistan would benefit morefrom peace in Afghanistan, because after Afghanistan no other country hassuffered as much as Pakistan.
