ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Afghanistan and China will take part in a trilateral dialogue in Kabul, on Saturday, with a focus on regional cooperation, peace, counter terrorism, and developmental projects.
This is the second round of talks between the three countries after they met in Beijing in December last year.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, and a coterie of other officials left for Kabul early on Saturday morning to attend the meeting.
While talking to state-run television, PTV, in Islamabad prior to leaving for Kabul, Qureshi welcomed China's initiative to hold the meeting.
He said that both Pakistan and China wish for peace, stability, prosperity, and development in Afghanistan.
FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi accompanied by senior officials from MoFA have left for #Kabul to attend #Pakistan #China #Afghanistan #trilateralmeeting.
The FM will meet #Chinese and #Afghan leadership during the visit.@mfa_afghanistan
pic.twitter.com/9o8B1IhPiv— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) December 15, 2018
“We are carrying the message of friendship and peace to Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister stressed that peace is imperative to take the region forward on the path of sustainable development,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China are leading their respective delegations.
“An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is set to be signed and issues, such as mutual political trust, peace, development cooperation, regional connectivity, and counterterrorism cooperation shall be discussed,” Sibghatullah Ahmadi, Spokesperson and Director General of Communication - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Afghanistan, tweeted.
Earlier this week, Qureshi said that Pakistan is willing to use its “little influence” with the Afghan Taliban to resurrect faltering peace talks between the Kabul government and the militant group.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump asked for Pakistan’s help with Afghan peace talks in a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
