ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process for sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.

Addressing the 8th Ministerial Heart of Asia -Istanbul Process conference in Istanbul, he said it was gratifying that the international community had finally vindicated Pakistan’s long-held stance that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister said the only solution, in our view, lay in a negotiated political settlement and there can be no peace without prosperity, and there can be no prosperity without partnership.

Also Read: Pakistan welcomes US, Taliban’s willingness to pursue political settlement of Afghan conflict

He said we should also focus on prioritizing physical connectivity through transport, communications, energy projects and transit trade to facilitate the flow of goods and services.

FM Qureshi said Pakistan remained Afghanistan’s largest trade and economic partner and it continued to host more than three million Afghan refugees for the last four decades and was committed to their safe and dignified voluntary return.

The minister further said our endeavor was to enhance trade and economic ties, facilitate people-to-people contacts, and increase regional connectivity.

On Nov 29, Pakistan had welcomed US President Donald Trump’s continued willingness to pursue political settlement in Afghanistan by resuming dialogue with Taliban.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a tweet.

He had said it was a positive development, which would help in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as in the region.

The foreign minister had said that Pakistan would continue to facilitate Afghan peace and reconciliation process in close consultation with all the stakeholders.

Talking to Reuters News Agency, Taliban had expressed their readiness to restart peace talks with the United States.

A spokesman of Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid had said that talks will be resumed from the stage where it stopped.

Earlier, talking to newsmen during his brief visit to Afghanistan, President Donald Trump had said that Taliban wanted to make a deal and he believed they would agree to a ceasefire.