ISLAMABAD/KABUL – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday exchangedviews on the peace process with his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar.

Foreign Minister Qureshi during the telephonic conversation reiterated thatPakistan is committed to continuing its conciliatory assistance to makeAfghanistan peaceful and stable. Pakistan is a crucial partner in peaceefforts in the region, stable Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest,Qureshi told Atmar.

He also expressed hope that the Istanbul Process will help make the DohaAgreement fruitful in the pursuit of lasting peace in Afghanistan. Qureshialso invited the Afghan Foreign Minister to Islamabad after the IstanbulProcess meeting.

The Afghan foreign minister thanked Qureshi and Pakistan’s top leadershipfor their continued diplomatic, political, and moral support in making theAfghan peace process fruitful. Both sides also agreed to meet in Istanbul.

In his tweet today, Qureshi wrote ‘spoke to FM @MHaneefAtmar on bilatrelations & evolving Afghan Peace Process. We support reconciliation inAfghanistan and progress in peace process, in Istanbul.”[sic].

I look forward to meeting FM Atmar at Istanbul Conf & to hosting him inPakistan soon after to discuss a way forward post-conference, FM added.