ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday urged Afghanistan to seize the opportunity and launch the intra-Afghanistan dialogue for lasting peace.
On the invitation of Afghan government, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood earlier in the day visited Kabul at the head of the Pakistan delegation comprising senior officers for the second review meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity. The Afghan side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab.
APAPPS was established in 2018 to provide a comprehensive and structured framework for institutional engagement in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
During the meeting, the entire spectrum of bilateral relations was reviewed. Highlighting the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, the Foreign Secretary underlined that these historic and fraternal ties were reinforced by a shared desire for regional peace, stability and prosperity, said a statement released by the foreign ministry.
The Foreign Secretary reiterated Pakistan’s abiding commitment to a peaceful, stable, united, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Afghan peace process and reiterated that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
An inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement was the only way forward. Pakistan looked forward to the earliest commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, he said.
The Afghan stakeholders, he said, must seize this historic opportunity, work together constructively, and secure an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led negotiated solution for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Noting that the coming phase would be challenging, the Foreign Secretary cautioned against the role of ‘spoilers’ and stressed that perseverance and unflinching commitment would be indispensable for a successful outcome.
The five Working Groups held in-depth discussions on key tracks of the relationship. In the Politico-Diplomatic Working Group, the Pakistan side focused on strengthening bilateral relations through regular high-level exchanges, increased institutional engagement, utilization of existing mechanisms, enhanced economic partnership, and intensified people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides reiterated their commitment to optimally utilize APAPPS to deliberate on all key issues, effectively address common challenges, and pursue new opportunities. It was agreed to enhance the frequency of APPAPS review meetings and increase mutual interaction among the various Working Groups. It was decided that the third review meeting will be held in Pakistan, the dates for which will be worked out through diplomatic channels.
Prior to the review meeting, the Foreign Secretary and the delegation members called on Acting Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar. The Foreign Secretary conveyed greetings on behalf of the leadership and people of Pakistan.
He also conveyed sympathies and condolences over the loss of precious lives due to Covid-19 and the human and material losses caused by heavy rains and flash floods in Parwan province.