ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday welcomed the Afghanistan's Loya Jirga's recommendation on release of Taliban prisoners and expressed the hope that the intra-Afghan negotiations would commence at the earliest.

Qureshi was speaking to the outgoing Afghan Ambassador Shukrullah Atif Mashal who paid a farewell call on him at the Foreign Office.

Mashal, who recently announced his resignation, also called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the general headquarters in Rawalpindi, in which, according to the ISPR, the ambassador thanked the COAS for support to Afghanistan and Afghan peace process during his tenure.

In his meeting with Foreign Minister Qureshi, the Foreign Office said the foreign minister reiterated importance of Pakistan's bilateral relations with Afghanistan.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had abiding interest in strengthening relations with all neighbours, including Afghanistan. It stated that the foreign minister welcomed the Loya Jirga's recommendation on release of prisoners, and expressed the hope that the Intra-Afghan negotiations would commence at the earliest.

He emphasised that the Afghan leadership should seize this historic opportunity to achieve a comprehensive, broad-based and inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.

It further stated that Ambassador Mashal thanked the foreign minister for his personal attention to further enhance Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations, and for the consistent support extended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his tenure.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020