ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held atelephone conversation with the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG)Anotnio Guterres.
According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office on Friday, viewswere exchanged on a range of issues on the UN agenda including the COVID-19situation; economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic; internationaldebt relief efforts; equitable availability of vaccines for the developingcountries; peacekeeping; Jammu and Kashmir dispute; and the Afghan peaceprocess.
Lauding the UNSG’s leadership during challenging times, the foreignminister welcomed his availability to serve a second term in office, andexpressed Pakistan’s full support for Guterres’s re-appointment for anotherfive-year tenure.
The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to multilateralism,with a strong UN playing a central role for the delivery of its mandatesthat meet the expectations of Member states.
The UNSG valued Pakistan’s constructive contributions towards the effectivefunctioning of the Organisation in the different areas of its work, callingPakistan a “fundamental partner of the United Nations.”
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The secretary general especially lauded Pakistan’s Presidency of the UNEconomic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the promotion of thesocio-economic development agenda.
Secretary General Guterres briefed the Foreign Minister on UN efforts withregard to the situation in Afghanistan. The minister underscored Pakistan’spositive contributions to the Afghan peace process, noting that it isimperative for the concerned parties to seize the historic opportunity andwork together for securing an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensivepolitical settlement while guarding against the role of ‘spoilers.’
The two leaders agreed that the Afghan peace process should be takenforward through consultations and in a manner that helps establish durablepeace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region.
