NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi underscored Pakistan's support for all political initiatives towards achieving peace in Afghanistan during a meeting with the United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, in New York.
Afghan-born Khalilzad, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, Afghanistan and Iraq, called on the foreign minister, who is leading Pakistan's delegation to the 73rd session of the U.N. General Assembly, at his hotel on Thursday. He was accompanied by Alice Wells, the U.S. Principal Deputy Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
The foreign minister noted that, after assuming his office, he had consciously undertaken his first official visit to Kabul, according to an official statement. This was a reflection of the importance his Government attached to Afghanistan, he said.
Qureshi emphasized that Pakistan regarded peace and stability in Afghanistan as vital for its own long-term stability and progress.
The foreign minister recalled that Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. Pakistan, therefore, welcomed the United States renewed emphasis on effecting a political settlement in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Khalilzad thanked Foreign Minister Qureshi for his support, and said he looked forward to working with Pakistan for peace and stability in Afghanistan, the statement said.
APP