FM to represent Pakistan at US-Taliban peace deal signing

DOHA: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will represent Pakistan at the peace deal signing between the United States and the Afghan Taliban in the Qatar,

The signing ceremony will be held in Doha where Qureshi would witness the signing of the historic peace agreement between the Afghan Taliban and the US.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also expected to be present. The ceremony will be attended by foreign ministers from around fifty other countries. 

Qatar has invited Pakistan to attend the peace signing deal. Qatari Ambassador to Pakistan Saqr Bin Mubarak invited Qureshi on behalf of the Qatari Foreign Minister during a meeting in Islamabad.

Qureshi said that Pakistan and Qatar have played a crucial role in furthering the Afghan reconciliation process. He further said that Pakistan appreciated the peace deal between the United States and the Taliban. He also hoped that the peace deal will lead to the intra-Afghan dialogue.

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US President Donald Trump had expressed eagerness to bring US soldiers home and to end the country’s longest war as he sought re-election in 2020. The two sides were on the verge of signing a peace agreement in September when Trump abruptly canceled the talks after a Taliban attack killed an American soldier.

About 14,000 US troops and some 17,000 troops from 39 NATO allies and partner countries are stationed in Afghanistan in a non-combatant role.