The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan announced that the country’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi telephoned Mohammad Haneef Atmar, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.
“The Foreign Minister highlighted that as a neighbor with abiding solidarity, Pakistan values its fraternal relations with Afghanistan,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statemetn, adding that “In view of COVID-19, Pakistan has taken a number of steps, at the request of the government of Afghanistan, to assist in movement of Afghan nationals and cargo trucks and containers. The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that Afghanistan would be able to control spread of COVID-19 effectively.”
The statement also added “Foreign Minister Qureshi further reiterated the importance of existing bilateral mechanisms. He hoped that the next session of APAPPS would be held soon which would help further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also added that the two Foreign Ministers also discussed latest situation in the Afghan Peace Process. “Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support to the Afghan peace and reconciliation process and said that the U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement provides a historic opportunity for the Afghan leadership to jointly work for the ultimate aim of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.”
“The Afghan Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs thanked Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on his message of felicitations,” the statement said, adding that “He concurred with the Foreign Minister on utilizing existing mechanisms, including APAPPS, to take forward bilateral relations. He also appreciated steps taken by Pakistan to facilitate return of Afghan nationals and movement of cargo and trucks, in view of COVID-19. The two sides also discussed further steps to deepen the bilateral economic relationship.”
“Pakistan will continue to support a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours,” the statement concluded.
