Pakistan vows to help end bloodshed in Afghanistan

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan and help the neighbour enter a new phase of peace and prosperity.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held out the commitment at a meeting Afghan President's Special Envoy on Afghan Reconciliation Omer Daudzai in Islamabad on Tuesday.

“Pakistan will continue to play its vigorous role in bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan, where stability is in Pakistan’s own best national interest and necessary for economic development of the region,” Qureshi said.

A former ambassador and interior minister, Daudzai conveyed President Ghani’s deep appreciation of the sincerity and vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office said Daudzai conveyed President Ashraf Ghani's greetings to the Pakistani leadership and expressed Islamabad’s strong desire to work closely with Islamabad in all areas of mutual interest.

According to a statement from the ministry, Daudzai acknowledged that Qureshi’s three visits to Kabul in a span of four months was "a clear proof of Pakistan's strong support for Afghanistan".

Qureshi referred to growing international consensus on ending the suffering of the Afghan people through a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The visiting envoy remarked the two countries had a unique relationship marked by commonalities and similarity of interests. He said the relationship needed to be utilised through various bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

"Enhancing bilateral trade and economic activities and more regular cultural and people-to-people contacts were the need of the hour," Daudzai added.

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