By Our Diplomatic
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said that early holding of intra-Afghan dialogue is indispensable to ensure Afghan peace process. In a telephonic conversation with Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Haneef Atmar, he said peace and stability in the region is linked to peace in Afghanistan, Radio Pakistan reported.
He said, apart from maintenance of peace in Afghanistan, Pakistan is also desirous of early and dignified repatriation of the Afghan refugees. The FM said Pakistan will continue its reconciliatory efforts for regional peace and stability including Afghan peace process.
Both the foreign ministers also held detailed discussion with regard to promotion of bilateral cooperation and enhancing regional contacts. In the month of July, Pakistan had participated in a virtual conference on Afghanistan, titled “Strengthening Consensus for Peace”, hosted by the Government of Afghanistan. President of Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani and Chairman High Peace Council for National Reconciliation Dr. Abdullah Abdullah participated in the conference.
Pakistan, in its statement, had emphasized the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan for the overall prosperity and stability in the region and beyond.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has strongly denounced the publication of blasphemous caricatures by French Magazine Charlie Hebdo. In a video statement on Thursday, the foreign minister said these caricatures have hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims across the world.
“Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to the French government on the despicable act,” said Qureshi and added that those behind the publication of blasphemous caricatures must be taken to task. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan last year had raised the issue of blasphemous caricatures in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. FM Qureshi expressed the confidence that the world will take immediate steps to put a stop to such acts and tendencies. He said that Pakistan is a democratic country and believes in freedom of expression, but freedom of expression does not give license to anybody to hurt the sentiments of others. The foreign minister noted there has been an increase in Islamophobia and Xenophobia across the world.
