Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will represent Pakistan in the signing ceremony of the historic peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in Doha today aimed at ending the 18 years long war in Afghanistan.
The two sides are set to sign the deal finally at Doha at the culmination of several rounds of talks that began in September 2018 in which the US side was led by Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Pakistan will be represented by Foreign Minister Qureshi in the signing ceremony; who is already in Doha. The ceremony is likely to be attended by representatives from several other countries.
In a statement on Friday released here by the Foreign Office, Qureshi said that Pakistan was invited to participate in the ceremony and become part of the entire process. "It is a great honour for Pakistan and acknowledgment of Pakistan's efforts towards peace and stability in Afghanistan," he added. Qureshi said that representatives from 50 countries including foreign ministers from a number of countries would witness the signing of the peace deal.
The foreign minister asserted that India made its utmost efforts to create hurdles in the Afghan peace process. "But despite all that, if it [deal] is signed, it will be a major success," Qureshi said, adding that today, Pakistan has a central role at world level and the world is lauding its role for establishment of peace in Afghanistan.
Last week, Qatar formally extended invitation to Pakistan to participate in the signing ceremony of the peace deal between United States and the Afghan Taliban. On behalf of the Qatari foreign minister, the invitation was extended by the Qatari Ambassador to Pakistan Saqr Bin Mubarak during a meeting with Foreign Minister Qureshi on Tuesday.
On February 21, 2020, both the US and Taliban announced that they would sign the peace deal on 29th of this month after holding extensive talks. Pakistan welcomed the development and hoped that the signing of the peace deal will lead to holding intra-Afghan dialogue.
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