LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: secretary of state Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday evening had a working dinner in London organized by Pakistan High Commission and said that both Pakistan and therefore the UK have an equivalent goal in Afghanistan.
Qureshi is in London on a three-day official visit after the conclusion of his trip to NY where he attended the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During his visit, Qureshi is about to satisfy the chairman of the British Foreign Affairs Committee, members of the British Parliament, and his counterpart Elizabeth Truss at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
Addressing the participants during the dinner, Qureshi touched upon several issues, including things in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s role in maintaining peace within the region and therefore the issue of terrorism, among other matters.
Qureshi said that the Western media was trying responsible Pakistan for things in Afghanistan but it’s the fault of the previous Afghan leaders due to which the country is facing a crisis.
“Former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai — who held office from 2001 to 2014 — used to accuse Pakistan of interfering in his country’s matters,” Qureshi said.
FM @SMQureshiPTI was accorded warm welcome by Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK Moazzam Ahmad Khan and senior officials of High Commission on his arrival at Heathrow Airport today@ForeignOfficePk @PakistaninUKhttps://t.co/Z6zm26CfXm pic.twitter.com/kSCkMywLVk
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 26, 2021
He went on to mention that the people of Afghanistan are the last word sufferers of the political chaos within the country.
“The people of Afghanistan are tired of war and only want peace and stability in their country,” he said.
Qureshi criticized Western countries’ stance on Afghanistan and said that “they try to form Pakistan a scapegoat.”
“[As opposed to the narrative of Western countries] Pakistan is not a safe haven for terrorists. Western media outlets should come here and see the situation for themselves,” Qureshi maintained.
Shedding light on the establishment of the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan, Qureshi said that both Pakistan and therefore the UK have unanimity in goals when it involves the matter.
“The United Kingdom supports the idea of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, and this exactly what Pakistan wants too,” the foreign minister said, adding that while the two countries may have different approaches to dealing with the situation, the goal is the same.
Qureshi also talked about the probability of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and urged Britain to contact the Taliban government to resolve the difficulty.
He warned that if the planet isolates Afghanistan, then there’ll be a refugee problem and other people will address Europe for help.
“Pakistan is ready to be at the center of relief activities in Afghanistan and will extend all possible support to the people there,” said Qureshi.
‘Pakistan cannot bear more Afghan refugees’
While Qureshi stressed that Pakistan is prepared to avert the possible humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, he had reiterated at the UNGA that Pakistan isn’t under a condition to simply accept more Afghan refugees.
“Pakistan doesn’t have the capacity to touch more Afghan refugees, Qureshi had told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week as he met him on the sidelines of the UNGA.
“Pakistan has time and again called on the international community to assist the Afghans and unfreeze the country’s assets abroad after the Taliban took over the country in mid-August during a lightning sweep,” he had said.
Qureshi called upon the international community to play a positive role and have interaction with the newly-formed Taliban government in Kabul.
