- Title: Pakistani FM embarks on four-nation tour with Afghanistan on the agenda
- Date: 25th August 2021
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 23, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER (FM), SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER, SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING: "I'll be leaving, as you pointed out, for four countries tomorrow. I'll be visiting Tajikistan, I'll be visiting Uzbekistan, I'll be visiting Turkmenistan, and I'll be visiting Iran. The fifth country is China. I've had a detailed telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of China, State Councillor Wang Yi, on the situation in Afghanistan and what role we as immediate neighbours can play. And the sixth neighbour, of course, is Pakistan." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER, SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING: "The objective of going out is to hear their assessment and see what are the immediate challenges that neighbours are facing, can face. How we can collectively devise a strategy in dealing with the refugees if that situation arises. Fortunately, the immediate scare of a huge influx has somewhat subsided because of the situation in Afghanistan which is, more or less, calm. But that need can arise in the days ahead."
- Embargoed: 8th September 2021 10:41
- Keywords: Afghanistan conflict Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tajikistan diplomacy foreign minister four nation visit tour
- Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN / DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN
- City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN / DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ERS0NRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, arrived in Tajikistan on Tuesday (August 24), beginning a crucial tour to countries that share borders with Afghanistan, in which he planned to exchange views on the evolving situation in the besieged country.
A day before embarking on his tour, Qureshi told reporters he would be visiting Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, to share Pakistan's perspective on the latest developments in Afghanistan.
"The objective of going out is to hear their assessment and see what are the immediate challenges that neighbours are facing, can face. How we can collectively devise a strategy dealing with refugees, if that situation arises," Qureshi said.
The Taliban entered Afghan capital Kabul on August 15 after rapidly taking over much of the country, prompting chaotic scenes at the airport as crowds scrambled to escape. It took the Taliban just over a week to seize control of the country after their lightning sweep that ended in Kabul as government forces, trained for years and equipped by the United States and others at a cost of billions of dollars melted away.
(Production: Sheree Sardar) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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