Afghanistan Peace CampaignPakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that ensuring peace in Afghanistan is the key to peace in the region and the world.
The foreign ministers of India, Russia and Pakistan on Friday called for a representative government in Afghanistan and the protection of women’s rights.
They were speaking at the day-long meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Indian coastal resort state of Goa, just ahead of a meeting scheduled over the weekend in Pakistan between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.
Speaking at the meeting, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that “the unfolding situation in Afghanistan remains at the center of our attention. Our efforts should be directed towards the welfare of the Afghan people.”
“Our immediate priorities include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities,” Jaishankar said.
Russia’s Sergei Lavrov said Moscow expected the current Afghan government to “deliver on their promises to come up with an inclusive government”.
“The assurances that were given in regards of human rights, security in the territory of Afghanistan, and the eradication of terrorist threats, drug trafficking, we are keeping an eye on this,” Lavrov said.
Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that ensuring peace in Afghanistan is the key to peace in the region and the world.
“A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a key not only to regional integration and economic cooperation but also to global peace and stability,” Zardari said.
“The absence of the formation of an inclusive government will challenge Afghanistan’s stable security perspective in the future,” said Mehdi Manadi, a political analyst.
In reaction to this meeting, Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Qatar, said that there should be discussion regarding the solution of the country’s present issues and the recognition of the Islamic Emirate in every meeting on Afghanistan.
“The current sanctions imposed on Afghanistan should be lifted, the foreign exchange reserves of the Afghanistan Bank should be returned, and the present government should be recognized,” Shaheen said.
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India are all permanent members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), whereas Afghanistan is a member as an observer.