ISLAMABAD, 27 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, emphasised that continued consultations by Afghanistan's neighbours on the situation in the war-torn country were the way forward.

He informed Raisi about Pakistan's perspective on the Afghan situation and stressed the importance of adopting a coordinated approach, saying peace in Afghanistan would bring economic and political benefits for the entire region.

The meeting was part of the foreign minister's two-day visit to four countries, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to promote a coordinated regional approach to the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

According to a statement from the Foreign Office “during today's meeting with the Iranian president, Qureshi was accompanied by Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Ambassador to Tehran Rahim Hayat Qureshi and other senior foreign ministry officials.”

The statement added “he conveyed congratulations from Pakistan's leadership to Raisi for winning Iran's presidential elections and receiving the parliament's endorsement for his cabinet. He also affirmed Pakistan's desire to work with Iran in all areas to further strengthen relations.”

During the meeting, Qureshi also thanked the president for Iran's consistent support on the Kashmir issue, especially by its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.