Top diplomats of neighboring states to meet to review Afghanistan situation

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - At Islamabad’s invitation, the foreign ministers of China, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan will virtually join their Pakistani counterpart on Wednesday to review the latest developments in neighboring Afghanistan.

The top diplomats of countries neighboring Afghanistan will gather following the Taliban’s Tuesday announcement of its much-awaited interim government.

It follows a virtual meeting of the special representatives of the five countries for Afghanistan held on Monday.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will chair the meeting.

The meeting, according to a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement, will review the evolving situation in Afghanistan to address common challenges and realize emerging opportunities to ensure regional stability and prosperity.

"It will provide an opportunity to neighbors of Afghanistan to work together for shared objective of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, which is essential to forge strong economic linkages and realize connectivity agenda," the statement added.

The meeting will build upon the discussions held at the special representative level, it said.

"The neighbors of Afghanistan have a vital stake in the stability of the country. A peaceful, stable, united, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan will contribute towards transit trade, people-to-people exchanges and security in the region," the statement said.