ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi telephoned his Pakistan counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on Tuesday and exchanged views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
During the conversation, a Foreign Office statement said, Qureshi underlined that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and ultimately the region.
In this perspective, Pakistan had assiduously supported the peace process in the war-battered country.
Pakistan and China, as part of Troika Plus — a body of four stakeholder countries and also includes Russia and the US — have made valuable contributions to support these efforts, he observed.
In the present situation, it was crucial to ensure safety and security, as well as protection, of the rights of the Afghan people, Qureshi said.
He stressed that an inclusive political settlement was essential, for which all Afghans should work together.
Qureshi said it was equally important for the international community to remain engaged in support of the Afghan people.
He emphasised that the international community must also have sustained economic engagement with Afghanistan.
He apprised Yi of Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the evacuation of personnel and staff of diplomatic missions, international organisations, media and others from Afghanistan.
Qureshi observed Pakistan and China were “iron brothers” and strategic partners, saying the two countries had the tradition of maintaining close coordination and communication on issues of common interest and significance.
The two diplomats agreed to remain in close contact to promote their shared objectives.
