FM phones his Afghan counterpart, expresses condolences on loss of senior officials in Kandhar terrorist attack

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday called up his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani and expressed his condolences on the sad demise of senior Afghan leaders and officials, including the Governor, Police Chief and Intelligence Head of Kandhar, in a terrorist attack in Kandhar on Friday.
The Foreign Minister also offered prayers for the blessings of the souls of the deceased and condolences for the victims’ families, and said that Pakistan continued to stand with its Afghan brothers and sisters, sharing their pain and grief, a press statement issued by the Foreign Office here said.
Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan condemned terrorism and would continue to work with Afghanistan for achieving long term peace and stability in the region, for which ending the conflict in Afghanistan was an essential step. Peace and economic development in Pakistan was linked with restoration of complete peace and stability in Afghanistan, he added.
The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that parliamentary elections would be held in a peaceful environment throughout Afghanistan, on October 20, 2018. These elections are an important landmark for strengthening of democracy in the country, which remains the key to achieve sustainable peace and progress in Afghanistan, he said.
He also reassured Rabbani about Pakistan’s complete support for Afghan democratic process.
Thanking the Foreign Minister for his support, FM Rabbani briefed Qureshi about the difficulties being faced by the Afghan government in holding the upcoming elections in Afghanistan in a successful manner.
He reiterated Afghan government’s strong resolve to overcome all difficulties in this regard. Salahuddin Rabbani also expressed the hope that both countries would continue to work together in pursuing peace and an end to the decades old conflict in Afghanistan.