NEW YORK, Sep 24 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday spoke with Republican Senator James Risch, on the sidelines of his United Nations-related engagements in New York. Senator

Risch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Foreign Minister, during the telephonic conversation, reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for a broad based, strategic partnership with the United States that would advance the two countries’ shared interests in the bilateral and regional spheres.

He highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating efforts for achieving an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.

He stressed the importance of a stable and broad-based government in Afghanistan to ensuring that Afghan territory is not exploited by transnational terrorist groups ever again.

Foreign Minister Qureshi noted that while it was important to hold the Taliban to their commitments, the international community must help the Afghan people deal with the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Senator Risch agreed with the Foreign Minister on the need for continued cooperation between the two countries for peace in Afghanistan.