ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said collective efforts succeeded in 'advancing Afghan peace process to an unprecedented point" saying the "importance of seizing this historic opportunity cannot be stressed enough."
"Our collective efforts have so far succeeded in advancing Afghan peace process to current unprecedented point. All stakeholders must ensure residual issues resolved to commence Intra-Afghan negotiations without delay. The importance of seizing this historic opportunity cannot be stressed enough," the foreign minister wrote in a tweet.
The tweet came after United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo earlier on Friday hailed Pakistan's role in Afghan peace process, saying that despite many challenges, the United States and Pakistan had made notable progress in advancing the Afghan peace process. "This last year, despite many challenges, we have made notable progress in advancing the Afghan peace process, and our health and economic cooperation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic is saving lives," he said in an Independence Day message for Pakistan.
Meanwhile, a special session of the D-8 Commission, co-chaired by Turkey (as current chair) and Bangladesh (as incoming chair), was held virtually. Tariq Karim participated in the meeting as Pakistan's Commissioner for the D-8, a press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.
The meeting discussed various issues related to preparations for the 10th D-8 Summit to be held in Dhaka, the press release added. Pakistan's Commissioner for the D-8 Tariq Karim said smart lockdown policy and other measures taken by the federal government led to a significant improvement in the Covid-19 situation in Pakistan with notable reduction in new cases and fatality rate, the statement said.
Karim also apprised the participants of the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in the wake of year-long inhuman military siege, communication blackout, and egregious violations of human rights, it added. He stated that despite widespread international condemnation, the Indian occupation forces continued to brutalize and disenfranchise the Kashmiris.
He stressed the importance of the world community and brotherly nations taking steps to alleviate sufferings of the Kashmiri people and to promote the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination. Pakistan is a founding member of D-8. Other members include Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020