ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday assured thevisiting Afghan President’s Special Envoy Mohammad Umer Daudzai thatPakistan would do all to help the people of Afghanistan see the earliestpossible end to bloodshed and enter a new phase of peace and prosperity.Following his appointment to the new position, this is Mohammad UmerDaudzai’s first visit abroad.The Afghan Special Envoy conveyed the greetings of President Ghani for thePakistani leadership while expressing the Afghan government’s strong desireto work closely with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest.
He also conveyed his government’s deep appreciation of the sincerity andvision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for peace and stability in Afghanistan.Daudzai stated that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s three visits toKabul within a span of four months were a clear proof of Pakistan’s strongsupport for Afghanistan.He briefed the Foreign Minister about his role to help create harmony amongthe various stakeholders.Welcoming Daudzai, Foreign Minister Qureshi said peace and stability inAfghanistan was in Pakistan’s own best national interest, and necessary foreconomic development and prosperity in the region.He highlighted the growing international convergence on the need to end thesuffering of the people of Afghanistan through peaceful settlement of theconflict.The Afghan Special Envoy noted that both Pakistan and Afghanistan had aunique relationship marked by commonalities and similarity of interests.The opportunity needed to be fully utilized by cementing various bilateralmechanisms of cooperation, he added.He expressed the Afghan government’s strong desire to make maximum use ofthe excellent framework provided by APAPPS (Afghanistan-Pakistan ActionPlan for Peace and Solidarity) in all areas of cooperation.Enhancing bilateral trade and economic activities and more regular culturaland people-to-people contacts were the need of the hour, he added.Both sides agreed for regular exchange of high level visits for creatinggreater harmony and coordination on various areas of mutual interest. Trulyreflective of the brotherly feelings between the two peoples, the closecultural and historical bonds must be harnessed to usher the Pak-Afghanpartnership into the new era for mutual benefit of both countries. – APP
