Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Wednesday (25 August) to address the situation in Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister and the Chairman of Tajikistan will meet during the visit. The Foreign Minister will go to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran from the 24th to the 26th of August 2021.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Office, the Foreign Minister will be conducting meetings with the top leaders of the countries to discuss issues of regional security and the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister will also share the perspective of Pakistan on the recent developments in Afghanistan.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a statement said that Pakistan plays a vital role in maintaining the stability, security, and peace within Afghanistan and the surrounding regions. It is important to consult the neighboring regions to address the common challenges and talk about the commonly shared goals which can enhance regional connectivity.
In the bilateral context, the foreign minister’s visit to these nations will deepen bilateral cooperation. According to a press statement, Pakistan wishes to enhance and broaden its diversified engagement with its neighboring partners.
The visit of the foreign Minister will help in the promotion of a coordinated regional approach and it will result in strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with Central and West Asia.
Foreign Minister posted on Twitter today (25 August) which notified the meeting of Shah Mehmood Qureshi with the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan.
In another tweet, Qureshi mentioned that they discussed “the importance of continued international engagement as a shared responsibility.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Qureshi had a phone conversation with Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Tuesday (24 August). They discussed the current prevailing situation in Afghanistan, moreover, Qureshi briefed Marise on the importance of security, stability, and inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.
The foreign minister emphasized Pakistan’s efforts to ease the evacuation of diplomatic officials, international organization staff, and others from Afghanistan. The Australian foreign minister expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its cooperation in this matter.
Mr. Qureshi said Pakistan really appreciates its relationship with Australia and had various collaborative strands, including political, economic, and cultural. The two foreign ministers agreed on enhancing high-level interactions.
