ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday has reiterated that it was crucial for the international community to ‘avoid mistakes’ of the past and pursue positive engagement with the Taliban regime to avert economic collapse or civil war in the country.
Addressing the opening session of 9th meeting of Troika Plus in Islamabad, the foreign minister pointed out that engagement with Afghanistan was important as nobody wished to see a relapse into civil war and an economic collapse in Kabul.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by Special Representatives of China, Pakistan, Russia and the United States, and the visiting delegation of the interim government of Afghanistan led by acting FM Amir Muttaqi.
This is the first official visit of the interim Afghan FM since the Taliban returned to power after the chaotic exit of United States-led foreign forces from the war-torn country in August.
“Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis,” he said, adding the Troika Plus meeting reflected the common desire to see a “peaceful and stable Afghanistan”.
He also expressed confidence that Troika Plus’ engagement with the new Afghan regime would help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan.
Qureshi reiterated that Afghanistan was at the brink of an economic collapse and with international funding dried up, it had become difficult to pay even salaries, let alone pursue development projects.
“It is, therefore, imperative for the international community to buttress provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis,” he stressed, adding that health, education and municipal services required urgent attention.
The foreign minister further said allowing Afghanistan to access its frozen funds would boost efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability.
On Pakistan’s direct stake in Afghanistan’s peace as its immediate neighbour, Qureshi said “with a shared heritage and history, we consider every ethnic community of Afghanistan important in the final destiny of the country.”
“Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism,” he pointed out, adding, “We see the current situation as an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict.”
He said peace and stability in Afghanistan would translate into global and regional benefits, adding that the instability in Kabul will have far-reaching consequences not just for its neighbours, but also for the European countries.
Qureshi said Pakistan acknowledged the fact that Afghanistan was a multi-ethnic country, adding that he will meet the Afghanistan foreign minister in the evening in Islamabad.
