Pakistan to host neighboring FM's on Afghan peace

Local media reported on Monday that Pakistan has planned a conference as its latest diplomatic effort to bring peace in Afghanistan.

"Islamabad is trying to host the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries," a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official told the Express Tribune.

"The main agenda of the conference of foreign ministers of neighboring countries is to build a consensus on Afghanistan and find a common solution to save the country from civil war and to encourage a comprehensive political solution," he said.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry official did not mention the names of the participating countries, but it is said that the foreign ministers from Iran, China, Russia and Turkey will be among the most important delegations invited to attend the Islamabad conference.

The Pakistani government had announced plans to hold a peace conference last month with high-ranking Afghan officials and leaders of various factions, but the plan was postponed at the request of Kabul.

Speaking to Pakistani media last week, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi stressed the need for direct talks between Kabul and Taliban to resolve differences, adding that Pakistan is in contact with key regional players, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to advance the Afghan peace process.

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