Taliban govt statements are encouraging: Qureshi

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Tuesday condemned the Kabul Airport blasts and asked the international community to keep eyes on anti-peace forces in Afghanistan.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the foreign minister was talking to his German counterpart Heiko Maas who called on him with a delegation here in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Qureshi said there was a sudden change in Afghanistan on August 15 as all estimates proved to be wrong, but fortunately, the country did not fall victim to civil war.

The foreign minister said statements of Taliban government like respect for human rights, non-use of Afghan territory against other countries were highly encouraging.

He said Pakistan and Germany had similar views on Afghanistan as both countries wanted peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

“We must keep an eye on anti-peace forces at this critical juncture in Afghanistan,” Qureshi said adding that the international community should not leave Afghanistan alone should continue its economic support.

He also stressed that international cooperation was essential to save Afghanistan from human tragedy.

He also told the General Minister that Pakistan was assisting the diplomatic staff of various countries, officials of international organizations and media representatives in evacuating from Kabul.

The two Foreign Ministers expressed happiness over the completion of seventy years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Germany and agreed to continue bilateral consultations on the situation in the region.

Earlier, Shah Mehmood Qureshi received his German counterpart on his arrival at the Foreign Ministry while the German Foreign Minister also planted a memorial plant in the greenery of the Foreign Ministry.