ISLAMABAD    -    Pakistan and Iran yesterday expressed identical views on the resolution of Afghan issue and peace in the war-torn country. Iran’s Special Envoy of Foreign Minister for Afghanistan Ebrahim Taherian Fard called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi here to discuss the Afghan issue amid foreign troops withdraw.  “During the meeting, views were exchanged on the Afghan peace process, regional security and issues of mutual interest,” said a foreign ministry statement. The Foreign Minister highlighted salient aspects of Pakistan’s consistent policy on Afghanistan. Emphasizing that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underscored that only a negotiated political settlement, through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process, would help achieve the desired objective of sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan. Qureshi expressed concern on high level of violence and emphasized the need for reduction in violence leading to corresponding ceasefire. 

He added that continuation of violence would strengthen the hands of spoilers who did not wish to see return of peace in the region. The Foreign Minister urged that it was important for the Afghan parties to seize this opportunity and leverage the international support for the peace process.Highlighting that both Pakistan and Iran have suffered due to instability in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister stressed close coordination between the two countries.The Foreign Minister congratulated President-elect Ayatollah Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi on his victory and reaffirmed commitment to further increase bilateral relations in all areas. The Iranian special envoy said Pakistan and Iran had similar views on Afghan peace and both countries supported the Afghan-owned peace process. Iran’s Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister for Afghanistan is on a two-day visit to Pakistan. This is Taherian Fard’s second visit to Pakistan as Special Representative on Afghanistan. He accompanied Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on his 11th official visit to Islamabad in November last year.