ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday urged the world to avert humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the international community to stay engaged with Afghanistan to achieve the goal.

The FM met his counterparts from Ireland, Portugal and Norway in New York. The foreign minister stressed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of vital importance for Pakistan and the region.

Qureshi also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating evacuation of diplomatic personnel and staff of international organizations from Afghanistan.

The foreign minister shared with his Portuguese counterpart the comprehensive Dossier containing evidence of India’s human rights violations, war crimes and illegal attempts to bring about a demographic change in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

The foreign minister also presented to his Norwegian counterpart a comprehensive Dossier documenting India’s gross and systematic violations of human rights in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He underscored the need for increased collaboration with Norway in political, economic, clean energy and other areas of mutual interest. In his meeting with Simon Coveney, Foreign Minister of Ireland, on the sidelines of the 76th UN General Assembly session in New York, FM Qureshi exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan, bilateral relations, as well as cooperation in the UN.

The Foreign Minister stated that Pakistan highly valued its relations with Ireland, bilaterally as well as in the context of the UN and the EU.

Foreign Minister Qureshi congratulated Foreign Minister Coveney on the successful conduct of Ireland’s Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of September. He expressed appreciation for Ireland’s open and inclusive approach that was displayed in the invitation to Pakistan to address the UNSC on the situation in Afghanistan earlier this month.

The Foreign Minister stressed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of utmost importance for Pakistan and for peace in the region. The Foreign Minister underscored that it was essential for the international community to stay engaged with positive messaging and constructive steps to avert humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister also apprised his Irish counterpart regarding Pakistan’s facilitation in the evacuation of over 14,000 people belonging to 30 different countries and international organizations.

Noting that the large Pakistani diaspora in Ireland was a strong bridge between the two countries, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of regular engagement to boost bilateral ties between the two countries. He also pointed out the need to hold the next round of Bilateral Political Consultations at the earliest.

Both sides agreed to remain engaged on regional issues and to consult closely with regard to the UN Security Council’s deliberations on Afghanistan.

In a separate meeting with Foreign Minister of Norway, Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide, on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Qureshi underscored the importance of continued and positive engagement of the international community with Afghanistan, in order to promote lasting peace and stability and to address the grave humanitarian situation in the country.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s role in supporting the UN’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, in addition to facilitating the evacuation and relocation of the UN and international staff as well as foreign diplomats and nationals belonging to a number of countries.

A comprehensive Dossier documenting India’s gross, systematic and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in IIOJK, including India’s illegal attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions, was transmitted to the Norwegian side.

The close bilateral relations between Pakistan and Norway were also discussed with a shared commitment by both sides to further enhance mutual cooperation. The Foreign Minister underscored the need for increased collaboration in political, economic, clean energy, and other areas of mutual interest between the two countries.

Also yesterday, Foreign Minister Qureshi met Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva of Portugal in New York on the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Views were exchanged on bilateral, regional and international developments as well as on cooperation between the two countries at the UN.

The Foreign Minister underscored Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen its engagement with Portugal, especially in economic and trade spheres.

Later, Foreign MinisterQureshi met Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York.

Views were exchanged on the latest developments in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation between the two sides.

Foreign Minister Qureshi stressed that Afghanistan was at a cross-roads and that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of crucial importance for Pakistan and the region. He called for sustained and positive engagement of the international community, particularly of the EU, for supporting stability and socio-economic development in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister conveyed Pakistan’s concern to the High Representative over the unwarranted and negative references to Pakistan in a recent resolution of the EU Parliament on Afghanistan. He recalled the efforts made by Pakistan for the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan, sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, and the assistance of Pakistan to ensure safe evacuation of diplomats and other officials from Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister and EU High Representative discussed the modalities for establishing closer cooperation between the EU and the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to prevent a humanitarian crisis, avert an economic collapse, and preclude a mass exodus from Afghanistan.