ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke with the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Sunday, and discussed bilateral relations and important regional developments.
The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for a broad-based and comprehensive partnership with the United States that was anchored in close economic cooperation, enhanced regional connectivity, and common vision for a peaceful South Asia.
Qureshi highlighted the salience of transformed Pakistan (Naya Pakistan), with its shifting focus on geo-economics. He underscored that this vision rested on three central pillars of peace, development partnerships, and connectivity.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Afghan peace process while underscoring that achieving a peaceful political solution in Afghanistan was the shared responsibility of all Afghan parties as well as the key international and regional stakeholders.
Pakistan stands strong in our support for the Afghan peace process and we believe achieving a peaceful political solution in Afghanistan to be a shared responsibility of all Afghan parties as well as the key international and regional stakeholders. https://t.co/ehy0pAMFup
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 16, 2021
Shared with @SecBlinken the people of 🇵🇰 grave concern on worsening humanitarian situation in Israeli Occupied Palestinian Territories & the important role of 🇺🇸 in ensuring necessary steps to help address the dire situation, restore peace, and facilitate a just solution. https://t.co/qFAtI0Egg1
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 16, 2021
Underscoring the importance of responsible withdrawal, the foreign minister stressed that reduction in violence, permanent ceasefire, and seizing this historic opportunity to secure an inclusive, broad-based, and comprehensive political settlement was indispensable.
The foreign minister highlighted Pakistan’s immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and the progress made in strengthening the anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering regimes. He reaffirmed the resolve to continue efforts in this regard.
The foreign minister apprised the US secretary of state of Pakistani people’s deep concern and anguish on the worsening humanitarian situation in the Israeli Occupied Palestinian Territories and underscored the importance of the US role in ensuring necessary steps to help address the dire situation, restore peace, and facilitate a just solution.
Qureshi and Antony J. Blinken agreed to stay in touch and work together on advancing the two countries’ shared bilateral and regional interests.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that the “Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and highlighted the importance of continued cooperation on the Afghan peace process, Pakistan’s progress on countering terrorism, and the potential to expand our trade and commercial ties and to improve regional connectivity in South Asia.”
Productive call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi about progress on Pakistan’s counterterrorism commitments, continuing cooperation on Afghan peace, and supporting regional stability. I look forward to continuing to work together in partnership.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 16, 2021
