Pakistan welcomes signing of US-Taliban peace agreement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between the United States  and Afghan Taliban in Doha, witnessed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who was present on the occasion.

Talking to media persons after the signing ceremony, the foreign minister said the peace agreement carried immense significance both in symbolism and substance for Afghanistan, the region and beyond.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said that today’s ceremony has once again vindicated Pakistan’s long-held stance that there is no military solution of the Afghan conflict.

He reiterated that Pakistan will continue its policy of supporting the Afghan people in their efforts to achieve lasting peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister appreciated the contribution of Emir of Qatar to this process. He said that intra-Afghan negotiations would be the next logical step for a political settlement.

“I am delighted what I have seen today… this won’t have happened without Pakistan.”

Pakistan FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi tells TRT World in Doha pic.twitter.com/mW18GNWVNC

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) February 29, 2020

Redrawing the international community’s attention to Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the foreign minister underscored the need to assist the Afghan government in creating an enabling environment for the return of the refugees to their homeland with dignity and honour.

Earlier while talking to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Doha, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said peace agreement between the United States and Afghan Taliban will help bring peace and stability to the region.

He also extended condolences over the deaths of Turkish soldiers in Syria. The Foreign Minister also expressed gratitude for continued and unflinching Turkish support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue.

He said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fully supported Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue during his address to a joint session of Parliament in Islamabad.