Foreign Minister meets Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi along with a high-level delegation including Acting Ministers for Industry & Commerceas well as Finance and Deputy Minister of Aviation. The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Minister of Aviation Sarwar Khan, Advisers on Finance and Commerce, Shaukat Tarin and Razzak Dawood and other senior officials.

Earlier in the day, working groups on Trade, Transit and Commerce, Finance and Aviation met under chairmanship of the respective Ministers from the two countries.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi underlined Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan. In this regard, the Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s continuing efforts for facilitating humanitarian assistance and economic support to Afghanistan given the twin challenges being faced by the Afghan people.

Foreign Minister Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to strengthen bilateral relations with Afghanistan in all areas. He added that the meeting had provided opportunity to build upon the earlier exchanges held during his visit to Kabul on 21 October 2021. The Foreign Minister emphasized that peace in Afghanistan would help strengthen regional stability, spur economic activity, and connectivity.

During the meeting, outcomes of the meetings of working groups on strengthening bilateral and transit trade regime and facilitating movement of people by land and air were shared. Pakistan offered technical assistance in a range of areas and shared a number of proposals. It was agreed to continue discussions with a view to strengthen existing ties and identify new areas of cooperation.

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi thanked Pakistan for its continued support to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and particularly for hosting millions of refugees for the last four decades. He assured of full cooperation in strengthening fraternal cooperative ties for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

The Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, earlier in the day, interacted with the Special Representatives/Envoys under the Troika Plus format.

Islamabad
11 November 2021

576/2021