Qureshi calls for political settlement to Afghan war

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan says continuing high levels of violence in Afghanistan are undermining progress achieved in the peace process.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned persisting violence would strengthen spoilers, who did not want to see the return of peace to the region.

At a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani’s Special Representative Omer Daudzai in Islamabad on Friday, Qureshi urged Afghan leaders to work for an inclusive and broad-based political settlement.

While asking the Afghan leadership to seize the opportunity for peace, he reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support for the ongoing negotiations in Doha.

A peaceful and stable Afghanistan was in the best interest of Pakistan, he said, adding Prime Minister Imran Khan had always stressed there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

Qureshi hoped the intra-Afghan negotiations would lead to the desired objective of a sovereign, peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

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