Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, calls on Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, today. Matters of mutual interest were discussed, with a special focus on the Afghan peace process.

Foreign Minister Qureshi appreciated Qatar’s positive and constructive efforts as the host of the U.S.-Taliban talks that culminated in the Peace Agreement and the subsequent Intra-Afghan Negotiations. The Foreign Minister highlighted that both Pakistan and Qatar had facilitated the Afghan peace process. Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan strongly believed in a negotiated settlement as there was no military solution of the conflict in Afghanistan. Emphasizing that peace and stability in Afghanistan were in Pakistan’s interest, the Foreign Minister underscored the need to remain vigilant of the role of ‘spoilers’ seeking to undermine the peace process.

The Foreign Minister hoped that the collective efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan would bear fruit.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also expressed the hope that progress on the implementation of the U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement would be maintained to achieve its stated objectives of a peaceful political settlement in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for Intra-Afghan Negotiations which provide a historic opportunity for establishment of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Islamabad

22 February 2021

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