News
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Trilateral talks on Afghan peace efforts in US next month: Qureshi
* Foreign minister says Afghan FM to visit Pakistan soon
* Islamabad’s relations with Kabul improving
* Pakistan wants result-oriented dialogues with India on all issues
Staff Report
LAHORE: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Tuesday Afghanistan, Pakistan, US trilateral talks on peace efforts in Afghanistan would be held in Washington next month.
Talking to reporters at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, the foreign minister said the ministerial level meeting of the three states struggling for the regional peace is scheduled to discuss developments in Afghanistan.
The ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan would present their respective viewpoint to chalk out a future line of action, Qureshi added.
Regarding the purpose of the talks, he said the meeting was scheduled to update each other on the latest developments and changed situation. All-out efforts would be made by the trio to achieve maximum tangible results, he added.
Islamabad’s relations with Kabul were improving with every passing day, while Afghan foreign minister would visit Pakistan soon to discuss peace efforts, he said.
Qureshi, however, said that a peaceful Afghanistan was not only in the best interest of Pakistan but also the entire region. He said he has invited his Afghan counterpart to visit Pakistan to discuss the ways and means to further improve bilateral relations.
Pakistan was playing an important role in the war on terror and wanted to establish peace in the region, he added. To another question, Qureshi said, terrorism had affected the lives of common Pakistanis and country’s economy.
About the law and order situation in Karachi, he said, “Maintenance of peace in Karachi is of great importance because only peace and harmony in the largest city of the country can ensure economic stability of the country.” He said the government was trying to normalise the situation, while all options would be used to improve law and order situation and protect the lives of the citizens.
Replying to a question, the foreign minister said Pakistan wanted meaningful and result-oriented dialogues with India on all issues of mutual interest, and agenda in this regard had been chalked out between the two countries at foreign secretary level. He said his Indian counterpart had invited him for advancement on the Indo-Pak dialogue process, adding, efforts were being made to ensure durable peace between Pakistan and India.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk