ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday emphasized the significance of a regional approach to address the evolving situation in Afghanistan while hosting a virtual meeting of special representatives of China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the foreign office said in a statement
The deliberations were held nearly two weeks after Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi embarked on his visit to Afghanistan’s neighboring countries to consult their leadership regarding the future of the war-torn state.
According to Pakistan’s official statement, its special representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq chaired the virtual meeting on Sunday which also mentioned the prospects of regional economic integration.
“Ambassador Sadiq, welcoming his counterparts, highlighted the importance of evolving a regional approach to address the common challenges and to realize the new opportunities arising from a stable Afghanistan,” said the foreign office. “He added that a prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan would provide impetus to economic integration, strong people-to-people linkages, enhanced trade, and regional connectivity.”
Sadiq said in a tweet after the meeting that all participants were unanimous that Afghan peace was “vital for security, stability and prosperity of the entire region.”
Only a day earlier, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed flew to Kabul amid rumors the Taliban were planning to announce a new Afghan government.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also urged the world community on Saturday to engage with Afghanistan to address the emerging humanitarian needs in that country and stave off another refugee crisis.
Khan made the plea while speaking to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres over the phone.
