Moscow, Oct 12 (TNS): Pakistan has called for early return of Afghan refugees and combating drug production and trafficking for lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region.
This was stated by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, while speaking at a meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan in Moscow.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov chaired the meeting while deputy foreign ministers of Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and representatives of SCO and its relevant bodies attended the meeting.
Janjua stressed the need for making serious efforts for negotiated settlement between Afghan government and Taliban for achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan.
The member countries welcomed Chinese proposal for hosting the next meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan in Beijing early next year.
The members of SCO Contact Group exchanged views on ways and means to support peace and stability in Afghanistan through facilitating Afghan-led peace process, assisting the Afghan government in dealing with security and counter-terrorism challenges and promoting regional economic integration and connectivity.
They unanimously supported measures for strengthening interaction between Afghanistan and the SCO countries.
