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DUSHANBE: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of the Asia – Istanbul Process in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations, including political and diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, defence ties, and collaboration in education and cultural fields.
During the meeting, FM Qureshi briefed the Turkish counterpart on Pakistan’s consistent support for and positive contributions to the Afghan peace process. He also cautioned against the role of “spoilers”, who he said did not wish to see return of peace and stability in the region.
Qureshi reiterated that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, stressing that an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement was the only way forward to achieve peace in the war-torn country.
The foreign minister emphasised that the progress achieved since the signing of the US-Taliban peace agreement and the commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations should be preserved.
He also expressed concern on the high level of violence in Afghanistan, stressing the imperative for the Afghan parties to work for a reduction in violence, leading to ceasefire.
He also recalled the Turkish foreign minister’s visit to Pakistan in January 2021, highlighting the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries based on shared history and commonality of views.
“The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) had transformed the two countries’ bilateral relations into a strategic partnership,” FM Qureshi added.
The two foreign ministers agreed to remain in close contact and maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries.