Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday stressed the need for “sincere efforts” to avert a looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Speaking to outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr Geoffrey Shaw who paid a farewell call on him at GHQ, the army chief underscored the importance of peace and reconciliation initiatives in the war-torn country.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and bilateral cooperation were discussed, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

COAS Bajwa thanked the Australian diplomat for his services in Pakistan and acknowledged his contributions to fostering strong ties between the two countries.

The high commissioner appreciated Pakistan’s role in the Afghan situation, role in regional stability and pledged to keep working for better relations between the two countries.