Qureshi, Muttaqi talk Afghan govt inclusivity

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): An inclusive government and respect for human rights, particularly women’s rights, is in the best interest of the Taliban, says the Pakistani foreign minister..

At a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi in Islamabad on Saturday, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan had been highlighting Afghanistan’s grave humanitarian and economic situation.

Since the Taliban takeover in mid-August, Qureshi said, Pakistan had been trying to draw the world’s attention to Afghanistan’s growing need for financial assistance.

Muttaqi is in Islamabad to brief the 17th extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan on Sunday (today).

Pakistan would tell the international community through the meeting not to repeat past mistakes in Afghanistan, the minister said, asking the world to move forward.

The hosting of the extraordinary OIC session was also part of Pakistan’s efforts to support its Afghan brethren, Qureshi told the visiting minister.

Pakistan had arranged food, medicines and 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat for the Afghan people, he said, referring to the Rs5 billion aid package for Afghans that he unveiled during his visit to Kabul.

Muttaqi thanked Qureshi for inviting him to the OIC meeting and extending him warm hospitality following his arrival in Islamabad.

Separately, Muttaqi discussed Afghanistan’s economic situation with German Special Representative for Afghanistan Jasper Wieck.

Speaking to reporters at the Kabul airport before leaving for Pakistan, the minister called the OIC session as an meeting for Afghanistan. “We will not allow the use of the Afghan soil against any third country.”

mud

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