ISLAMABAD   -  Pakistan yesterday said it provided critical support to the multinational evacuation efforts from Afghanistan both from Kabul airport, and across the land border amid the withdrawal of the foreign forces.

In his weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said Pakistan continues to closely follow the evolving situation in Afghanistan and reaffirms its abiding commitment to a peaceful, stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan.

“In the days leading up to the completion of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan provided critical support to the multinational evacuation effort from Afghanistan both from Kabul airport, and across the land border,” he said.

Ahmed said Pakistan was hopeful that the new political dispensation will ensure coordinated efforts for peace, security and stability in Afghanistan as well as work towards taking care of humanitarian and development needs of the Afghan people.

He said Pakistan decided to dispatch humanitarian assistance comprising food and medicines for the people of Afghanistan. “We also expect the international community would play its due role in helping address the urgent needs of the Afghan people in order to avert a humanitarian crisis,” he added.

Ahmed said Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Afghanistan continue to function. “Pakistan has continued proactive diplomacy in recent weeks, interacting with a host of partners in the region and beyond. The objective - to exchange views and coordinate positions on the best way forward to help ensure sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan, which is a shared objective of the international community,” he said.

The spokesperson said Prime Minister Imran Khan had spoken to 13 world leaders since 15 August, the most recent interactions being with the Emir of Qatar, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the Crown Prince of UAE, besides the UN Secretary General.

“Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has had 25 telephonic conversations with his counterparts since 15 August. This includes Foreign Ministers of Austria, Slovenia, Iran, Poland and Romania and the Kenyan Defence Minister since my last briefing,” he added.

The spokesperson said Pakistan had 6 visits of Foreign Ministers in recent days – Starting with Germany, “we had the Dutch, British, Italian, Qatari Ministers, and the Spanish FM earlier today. These visits provided an opportunity to renew bilateral contacts, and coordinate positions on regional issues. Pakistan’s support for evacuation efforts and overall constructive role on Afghanistan – as a key stabilizing and positive factor - were appreciated during these interactions.”

He said a particular focus of our diplomatic outreach and engagement has been with the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, who naturally have important stakes in the situation and a common desire for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Following the foreign minister’s visits to the region last month, a meeting of the Special Representatives and Envoys of the six neighbouring countries convened by Pakistan was held virtually on 5th September, the spokesperson said.

He said as the situation in Afghanistan was at a critical juncture, and responsible members of the international community were engaged in deliberating the best way forward, “it is extremely deplorable that certain spoilers and detractors, the same known actors, remain busy in peddling false narratives and disinformation, which by the way already stood busted and discredited by various sources.”

On Kashmir, he said Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms, Indian Occupation Forces’ continued harassment of Syed Ali Geelani’s family.

“The registration of cases against the grieving family members of the iconic Kashmiri leader is yet another reprehensible act by the Indian Occupation Forces,” he said.

Ahmed said the Foreign Minister has addressed letters to the UN Secretary General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

He said Indian Charge d’ Affaires was also summoned to the Foreign Office and was conveyed Pakistan’s strong demarche on Indian Occupation Forces’ shameless, callous and inhuman handling of the mortal remains of Syed Ali Geelani in blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law and all tenets of civil and human rights.

He said Pakistan will continue to sensitize and inform the international community about the dire state of human rights in IIOJK resulting from India’s war crimes and systematic persecution and violation of human rights of the Kashmiri people.