ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday saidPakistan attached great importance to its neighbours and South Asia andbelieved in the lasting peace.

He spoke with Foreign Minister of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who is alsothe Chair of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), anddiscussed the evolving peace and security situation in theregion, Foreign Office in a press release said.

The foreign minister said the SAARC was a forum established to bring thecountries of the region togetherand therefore, Nepal, as Chair could play a constructive role in thisregard.

The Nepali foreign minister said that peace and the security of the regionwas a primary responsibility ofall. Nepal as a member of SAARC and friend of Pakistan firmly believed thatpeace was in the interest of everyone,he added.