Pakistan urges world to engage with Taliban in Afghanistan
Islamabad, Oct 8 (EFE).- Pakistan National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf Friday urged the global community to engage with the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan.
Yosuf made the appeal during his meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
The senior American diplomat reached Islamabad Thursday on a two-day visit.
She also met with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf.
“The international community must maintain contact and engage with the new interim government (in Afghanistan),” Yusuf told Sherman in a meeting.
A statement by the US embassy in Islamabad said Sherman and Moeed “discussed developments in Afghanistan and ways to advance cooperation across the bilateral relationship.”
The bilateral ties have deteriorated over the war in Afghanistan.
Washington has accused Pakistan of secretly supporting the Taliban during the American war on terror — a charge denied by Islamabad.
The visit is the first by any top US diplomat since President Joe Biden assumed office in January.
After the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Pakistan has sought to engage and rebuild ties with the US.
A foreign ministry statement said Qureshi stressed the need for a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan, emphasizing “there is commonality in views between the two countries.”
“It is important to have regular and organized dialog between Pakistan and the US to promote bilateral interests as well as common regional objectives,” Qureshi said.
The statement said the US delegation appreciated Pakistani efforts in evacuating American and other citizens from Afghanistan and its cooperation and efforts for peace in the region.
A diplomatic source told EFE on condition of anonymity that Sherman will meet the powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa later on Friday in Rawalpindi.
There is no meeting scheduled between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sherman, the source said.
Before visiting Pakistan, Sherman visited India for bilateral meetings, business, and civil society events. EFE
aa/ssk
