ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is of paramount importance for Pakistan and the region.
In a telephonic conversation with his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau on Saturday, he apprised him of his regional outreach efforts regarding the situation in Afghanistan.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi underlined the need for achieving an inclusive political settlement and the importance of the international community in providing humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan.
In the bilateral context, the Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the next round of Bilateral Political Consultations scheduled to be held in October 2021 would be conducted ‘in-person’ if the Covid situation improved.
He also called upon the Canadian Government to ease the visa regime especially for students and businessmen and asked for further positive revision of Canadian travel advisory for Pakistan.
The Canadian Foreign Minister agreed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is crucial for regional peace, stability and prosperity, and praised Pakistan’s efforts in promoting these objectives.
He expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its facilitation in evacuation related matters and hoped that such support will continue.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed to remain engaged and further strengthen bilateral ties. This was the fourth call between the two Foreign Ministers in recent months.
