ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday had atelephone call with his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar and discussedmatters of mutual interests including the proposed establishment of BorderSustenance Markets (BSMs).

Highlighting Pakistan’s policy to strengthen trade between the twocountries, Foreign Minister Qureshi drew Foreign Minister Atmar’s attentiontowards proposed establishment of Border Sustenance Markets.

He underlined that it was a special initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khanto boost local trade and economic activity in the border regions.

The foreign minister expressed hope for the earliest finalization of theMemorandum of Understanding (MoU), a press release issued by the Ministryof Foreign Affairs here said.Reiterating Pakistan’s consistent support to a peaceful, stable andprosperous Afghanistan, he underlined that the Intra-Afghan Negotiations(IAN) provided an historic opportunity for the Afghan leadership to achievean inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement inAfghanistan.link

The foreign minister expressed concern on the high level of violence inAfghanistan and emphasized progress in the IAN which would also facilitatereduction in violence, leading to ceasefire.

During the call, Foreign Minister Qureshi also raised the issue ofPakistani prisoners who had been languishing in Afghan jails over minorcrimes.

He expressed the hope that prisoners would be released as per thePresidential decree, providing them an opportunity to return to theirfamilies.

Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution of the Afghanconflict and a political settlement was the only way forward.

Pakistan would continue to play its positive role towards supporting theAfghan Peace Process and strengthening bilateral relations withAfghanistan, the press release concluded.