UK pledges continued assistance to Afghans

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab says his country will continue to extend humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

At a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad on Friday, Raab said it would not have been possible to evacuate some 15,000 people from Kabul without Taliban’s cooperation.

“We do see the importance of being able to engage and having a direct line of communication (with Taliban),” the visiting dignitary said.

Raab commended Pakistan’s role in the safely evacuation of British citizens from Afghanistan. The UK would continue to provide aid to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds, he said.

“We will continue to help Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, including Pakistan. We want to see a prosperous Afghanistan.”

The Taliban would bring stability and an end to violence in Afghanistan, the top British diplomat hoped, saying it was premature to discuss the Taliban’s recognition.

Discussions between and Qureshi focused on commonalities of interest and exploring ways of further boosting bilateral cooperation.

Whatever the conclusion of Doha peace talks, Pakistan had no favourites in Afghanistan, Qureshi told a questioner.

He remarked: “We will engage with a government in Afghanistan that has the backing of its people. We want to help the people of Afghanistan.”

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