ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs Dominic Raab on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed the need for the international community to stand in solidarity with the Afghans.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister Office, the meeting revolved around the latest developments in Afghanistan, as well as bilateral matters and regional and international issues.
The Prime Minister underscored the importance of a peaceful, secure, and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region’s stability. He noted that it is “critical to stabilise the security situation in Afghanistan, take steps to consolidate peace, and preclude any mass exodus”.
In this context, preventing a humanitarian crisis and stabilising the economy were of utmost importance, the premier said. PM Imran Khan stressed that the international community stand in solidarity with the Afghans, undertake positive engagements and create incentives for ensuring a peaceful, stable, and inclusive polity in the country.
He also warned about the role of “spoilers”, both inside and outside Afghanistan, which could destabilise the situation. Moreover, the prime minister sensitised the UK side on the gross human rights violations in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the inhumane snatching away of the mortal remains of senior Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Geelani.
While discussing bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UK, PM Imran Khan noted the long-standing relationship between the two sides and “strong people-to-people ties”.
He also expressed concerns about Pakistan’s retention on UK’s travel red list which has caused inconvenience to individuals bearing nationalities of both countries.
