Turkey has important role in Afghan peace process: FM Shah

ISLAMABAD, 09 July: Foreign Minister(FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday told a Senate panel that Pakistan would suggest a power-sharing formula in Afghanistan to avoid a civil-war-like situation in the neighbouring country turkey.

Briefing members of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan is already handling Afghan refugees in its limited resources and could not deal with more influx.

“We do not want Afghan refugees here as they should stay in their country,” he said and added that they even want three million refugees currently in Pakistan to return to their homeland.

“Afghan Taliban strengthening across the border”

FM Shah further warned that in the case of the Afghan Taliban strengthening across the border, TTP could also increase its influence that could harm Pakistan.

He further highlighted the important role Turkey had in the Afghan peace process and said that better initiatives were taken under the banner of the Istanbul peace process.

The foreign minister added that they had a better relationship with Iran and border markets have been established on the Pakistani side to improve trade ties between the two sides.

Speaking during the meeting, National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf said that they want the end of violence in Afghanistan in order to prevent any fall out of it on Pakistan.

Read this: Pakistan not to take side with any parties in the Afghan conflict: FM Shah

Foreign Minister(FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi once again reiterated that Pakistan would not side with any parties in the Afghan conflict and would stand alongside the decision taken by the people of the country.

Speaking to the local channel the FM Qureshi said that peace talks are the only way forward for lasting peace in Afghanistan. “Whether the US decides to sit or not, it is the Afghans that had to sit together to resolve the issue,” he said.