NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday while reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, stressed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of crucial importance for Pakistan and the region. The foreign minister emphasized that the international community must engage actively – with positive messaging and constructive steps – and accord urgent priority to the imperative of addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people and preventing economic meltdown.

Foreign minister Qureshi met Foreign Minister of Portugal Augusto Santos Silva on the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Views were exchanged on bilateral, regional and international developments as well as on cooperation between the two countries at the UN. Qureshi shared with his Portuguese counterpart the comprehensive dossier containing evidence of India’s human rights violations; war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; false flag operations; and illegal attempts to bring about a demographic change in IIOJK in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and international humanitarian law.

Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi called for sustained and positive engagement of the international community, particularly of the European Union, for supporting stability and socio-economic development in Afghanistan. He stressed that Afghanistan was at a cross-roads and that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of crucial importance for Pakistan and the region. The foreign minister was talking to High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, on the sidelines of UN General Assembly.

Views were exchanged on the latest developments in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation between the two sides. The foreign minister conveyed Pakistan’s concern to the high representative over the unwarranted and negative references to Pakistan in a recent resolution of the EU parliament on Afghanistan. He recalled the efforts made by Pakistan for the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan, sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, and the assistance of Pakistan to ensure safe evacuation of diplomats and other officials from Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi appreciated the Afghan Taliban for