ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday thanked Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, for convening an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
An ‘extraordinary’ meeting of the 57-member body was held on August 22 in which the OIC said it expected a comprehensive dialogue and national reconciliation from the authorities in Afghanistan, and urged the Taliban not to allow Afghan soil to shelter “terrorist organizations.”
On Monday, Qureshi spoke with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and thanked him for taking the initiative on Afghanistan.
“The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the latest situation in Afghanistan and also discussed a number of issues of bilateral importance,” a statement from the Pakistani foreign office said, adding that Qureshi “expressed the hope that Afghan parties would work for an inclusive political settlement to ensure sustainable peace and security in the country and the region.”
Qureshi also stressed the importance of the international community’s “active and sustained engagement” with the Afghan people.
He updated his Saudi counterpart on Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the evacuation of personnel and staff of diplomatic missions, international organizations, media and others from Afghanistan.
Taliban insurgents captured Kabul on August 15, after taking over Afghanistan city by city in the last few weeks. They have since announced an “amnesty” across the country and urged women to join its government, but many are skeptical of the promises.
Pakistan thanks Saudi Arabia for helping convene OIC’s emergency meeting on Afghanistan
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Pakistan thanks Saudi Arabia for helping convene OIC’s emergency meeting on Afghanistan
- An ‘extraordinary’ meeting of the 57-member body was held on August 22
- OIC has urged Taliban not to allow Afghan soil to shelter “terrorist organizations”
Pakistan, US discuss boosting anti-narcotics cooperation, pledge stronger ties
- Mohsin Naqvi highlights Pakistan’s ‘zero-tolerance policy,’ says National Narcotics Coordination Center to be set up soon
- ANF operations this year led to seizure of 134 tons of drugs, arrests of over 2,000 suspects, including 75 foreign nationals
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States vowed to strengthen bilateral ties with a special focus on anti-narcotics cooperation during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and acting US ambassador Natalie Baker on Saturday, said an official statement.
The talks covered intelligence sharing, joint efforts to curb drug trafficking and measures to prevent illegal immigration.
Pakistani officials also briefed the meeting on recent operations by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and plans to modernize screening and enforcement at airports.
“We are strictly implementing a zero-tolerance policy on narcotics,” Naqvi said, according to the Interior Ministry.
“Airports are being equipped with the most advanced scanning machines, and detecting drug smuggling at every possible stage is our top priority,” he continued, adding that drugs originating from Afghanistan were reaching dozens of countries and “destroying the younger generation.”
Naqvi said Pakistan would welcome US technical assistance for counter-narcotics efforts and confirmed that a National Narcotics Coordination Center would be established soon.
The statement said Baker offered US support for Pakistan’s work to combat narcotics and prevent illegal immigration, saying Washington attached “special importance” to its relationship with Pakistan and would continue cooperation across sectors.
During the meeting, Pakistani officials presented a detailed briefing on ANF operations, noting that under the annual counter-narcotics campaign, 134 tons of drugs had been seized, 2,001 suspects, including 75 foreign national, arrested and narcotics worth $12.797 billion confiscated.
Authorities also reported arresting 110 Afghan nationals in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, clearing 40,659 acres of poppy cultivation and maintaining poppy-free status in several regions.
Naqvi said Pakistan regarded ties with the US as important for promoting regional peace and stability and remained committed to strengthening long-standing bilateral relations.
The meeting was also attended by the interior secretary, the ANF director general, the director of enforcement and officials from the US embassy.
