KABUL (Pajhwok): The foreign ministers of China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Wednesday held a virtual meeting – to discuss developments in the country, a media report said.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasised that recent events had “catapulted” the region to a global spotlight, adding that “how the situation evolves will have profound implications for Afghanistan, our region and the world at large”.
“It is clear that no one could anticipate the recent turn of events from the meltdown of security forces to the collapse of the Afghanistan government,” he said, adding that all previous assessments and predictions had been proven wrong.
“In the wake of recent developments, the key priorities are to prevent a humanitarian crisis that can exasperate the suffering of the Afghans. Equally important is to take steps to prevent an economic meltdown in the country,” Qureshi added.
He emphasised that if a humanitarian crisis is prevented and economic stability assured then peace can be consolidated, and a mass exodus precluded.
FM Qureshi stressed that this required enhanced engagement of the international community, particularly at this “pivotal junction”.
“Renewed diplomatic and international presence in the country would reassure the Afghan people,” he stated, adding that urgent humanitarian assistance with the United Nations and its various agencies playing a lead role would reinforce the process of confidence-building.
Qureshi reiterated that “the much-dreaded bloodshed” had not occurred, while a protracted conflict and civil war had also been “averted”.
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