ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrani stated that Pakistan does not want further tension with Afghanistan.
During a news briefing on Friday, he said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by a high-level delegation, visited Saudi Arabia and attended the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh.
The prime minister also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held an important meeting with the Saudi Defense Minister.
He also had telephonic discussions with foreign ministers of various countries regarding bilateral relations and investment opportunities.
Commenting on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, the spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan seeks to avoid escalation and hopes that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan.
Read also: Pakistan, Afghan Taliban reach agreement to extend ceasefire
Earlier, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban agreed to extend a ceasefire during talks mediated by Turkiye and Qatar.
The ceasefire began on October 19.
According to sources, the meetings were held Oct. 25-30 in Istanbul, with the attendance of Turkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban to strengthen a ceasefire agreed on in Doha earlier this month under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar.
The statement issued after the meeting noted that the parties reached a consensus on the continuation of the ceasefire.
It said additional principles for implementation will be discussed and finalized during a high-level meeting to be held on November 6 in Istanbul.
It also stated that the parties agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the maintenance of peace and impose penalties on any side that violates the agreement.