Pakistan will continue to execute joint responsibility for maintaining peace in region: FM

F.P. Report

ISTANBUL: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan will continue to execute its joint responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the region including Afghanistan.

Talking to Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani on the sidelines of the OIC meeting in Istanbul, he said, from the first day, we are supporter of Afghan owned talks.

The Foreign Minister said establishment of peace in Afghanistan is not only important for Afghanistan but also imperative for development of the entire region.

On the occasion, the Afghan Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s endeavors for ensuring peace in Afghanistan.

Talking to his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the OIC meeting, Mehmood Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to improve relations with all regional countries, including Iran.

The two sides discussed Pak-Iran relations and overall issues of mutual interest, including the regional situation.

The Iranian Foreign Minister endorsed the points raised by Shah Mehmood Qureshi against the rising Islamophobia and assured his full cooperation in this regard.

Foreign Minister Qureshi proposed that Pakistan, Iran and Turkey should devise a joint course of action against rising intolerance against Islam in the Western world.

Both Foreign Ministers agreed to increase Pak-Iran cooperation in multidimensional areas for the promotion of bilateral ties.

The Iranian Foreign Minister especially thanked the armed forces and government of Pakistan on retrieving four missing Iranian soldiers.