ISLAMBAD   -  Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday expressed concern over the high level of violence in Afghanistan which could damage the peace process.

Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar and discussed matters of mutual interests came under discussion, said a foreign ministry statement. 

Reiterating Pakistan’s consistent support to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underlined that the intra-Afghan negotiations provided an historic opportunity for the Afghan leadership to achieve an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister expressed concern over the high level of violence in Afghanistan and emphasized progress in the IAN which would also facilitate reduction in violence, leading to ceasefire.

He said the Intra-Afghan Negotiations had provided a window of opportunity for return of lasting peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution of the Afghan conflict and a political settlement was the only way forward. Pakistan would continue to play its positive role towards supporting the Afghan Peace Process and strengthening bilateral relations with Afghanistan.  

Highlighting Pakistan’s policy to strengthen trade between the two countries, Foreign Minister Qureshi drew Foreign Minister Atmar’s attention towards proposed establishment of Border Sustenance Markets.

He underlined that it was a special initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan to boost local trade and economic activity in the border regions. The Foreign Minister expressed hope for the earliest finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding.

During the call, Foreign Minister Qureshi also raised the issue of Pakistani prisoners who had been languishing in Afghan jails over minor crimes.

He expressed the hope that prisoners would be released as per the Presidential decree, providing them an opportunity to return back to their families.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination for peace and stability in the region.

In a statement, he said the world community acknowledges the role played by Pakistan to facilitate the Afghan peace process.

The Foreign Minister regretted that India has not reciprocated to peace overtures of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Qureshi said Kashmir was an internationally recognized dispute. He said India has been violating the basic human rights of Kashmiri people over a long period of time.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan was consistently apprising the world that Kashmir is a flashpoint and its immediate and permanent solution is must for regional peace and stability.

‘Pulwama drama’

Also Qureshi on Monday said that India’s belligerence invited world attention as it was threatening the regional peace.

Speaking to Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi who called on him here, the FM said that the Hindutva ideology of Indian government had tarnished the identity of secular India due to its wrong policies.

“We are trying to keep the new US administration informed of the whole situation,” he said.

The meeting came as Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world in Pakistan prepared to observe the Indian Republic Day as Black Day today (January 26).

This is aimed to draw the international community’s attention towards unlawful and forcible Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said that due to the Hindutva ideology of BJP-led government minorities in India felt insecure. “The Pulwama drama has been exposed to the whole world. Through the dossier we have presented to the whole world concrete evidence of India’s support for terrorists in Pakistan,” he added.

Qureshi said that the European Parliament, the British Parliament and other important international forums were raising their voices against the ongoing atrocities in held Kashmir.

“Issues of mutual interest including serious human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were discussed during the meeting,” said the official statement.

Shehryar Afridi appreciated the Foreign Minister for exposing India’s aggression in IIOJK and the atrocities perpetrated on 8 million unarmed Kashmiris.

Meanwhile, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over including Pakistan will observe the Indian Republic Day as Black Day today (January 26).

The All Parties Huriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir People’s League, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Alliance and Youth Freedom Fighter through posters displayed in several cities, towns and others areas of the valley urged people to boycott all Indian official celebrations and hoist black flags on houses, shops, electricity polls and other installations.

The APHC asked people to impose civil curfew in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Indian forces have been deployed in massive numbers all across the occupied territory, especially around the venues of tomorrow’s functions to prevent anti-India protests.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, protest rallies and demonstrations will be held in all ten districts to mark the Indian Republic Day as a Black Day.

In Muzaffarabad, leaders of various political parties, including those in the AJK Legislative Assembly, will lead a rally to mark the day.

APHC leader and Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Khawateen Markaz Chairperson Yasmeen Raja urged the people to boycott all Indian celebrations to send a loud and clear message to the world and India that the Kashmiris reject Indian illegal occupation and were struggling to secure their right to self-determination.

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League said the unresolved Kashmir dispute could lead to a nuclear catastrophe in South Asia and the world will not be able to cope with its dangerous consequences.

Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Vice Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Butt and General Secretary Abdul Hameed said that India had no moral right to celebrate the day in the occupied territory.