Burden of peace can't be placed on Pakistan alone after US withdrawal from Afghanistan: FM

ANKARA (92 News) - Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the responsibility of peace in the region cannot be placed on Pakistan alone after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In an interview with Turkish news agency, FM Qureshi said that other countries in the region also have a role to play on the Afghan issue.

He further said that issues like Kashmir are a major obstacle to development and stability in South Asia.

On the other hand - in an interview with Tolo News - FM Qureshi said that Pakistan will not support a takeover of Afghanistan’s capital by force. “We have never said…we have never supported or advocated a takeover of Kabul by force," he added.

He also said that the Afghan leadership, including Taliban, has to “reconcile” and find a way to end the violence in the country. “If you fail, if the Afghan leadership fails, then yes, we are heading for a civil war,” said Qureshi while responding to a question. “And God forbid, if there is one (civil war) then you suffer and we suffer as well.” He added that the Afghans need to accept each other and find a way to coexist.

The US forces will leave Afghanistan by September 11 under a deal Trump administration signed with Taliban in Doha last year. The representatives of Afghan government and Taliban have met twice in Doha to negotiate peace but they haven’t reached a political settlement.