The Speaker of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga, Mir Rahman Rahmani, called on Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi today. Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance Pakistan attaches to its fraternal relations with Afghanistan. He also emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, with increased interaction through the respective Parliamentary Friendship Groups as well as between women parliamentarians on both sides. The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and highlighted Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process. He stressed that after the Afghans themselves, no other country had a greater stake in lasting peace in Afghanistan than Pakistan. The Foreign Minister noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan had repeatedly underlined that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a political solution was the only way forward. The U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement has provided a historic opportunity for the Afghan leaders to now work together and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement. The Foreign Minister underlined that progress in the Intra-Afghan Negotiations would help in reduction in violence leading to ceasefire. He also cautioned that there was a need to remain watchful of the role of “spoilers” who did not wish to see peace and stability return to Afghanistan or were averse to strong Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. On the bilateral plane, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of APAPPS, noting that this mechanism provided the best platform to address all relevant issues. The Foreign Minister underscored that enormous synergies and complementarities existed in trade and economic fields between the two countries which should be optimally utilized. A new visa regime has been implemented for Afghan nationals which would facilitate people-to-people links. Mr. Rahmani, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is on a three-day bilateral visit from 23-25 October 2020. He will also participate in “Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Forum 2020 - Partnership for Mutual Benefit” seminar in Islamabad on 26-27 October 2020.
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