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ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said he hopes parliamentary elections will be held in a peaceful environment throughout Afghanistan.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani over the phone on Friday.
Pakistan’s foreign minister told Rabbani “these elections are an important landmark for the strengthening of democracy in the country, which remains the key to achieving sustainable peace and progress in Afghanistan,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Friday evening.
Qureshi also reassured Rabbani about Pakistan’s complete support for the Afghan democratic process.
Afghanistan is holding an election for the lower house of parliament, known as the Wolesi Jirga under tight security.
“Thanking the Foreign Minister for his support, FM Rabbani briefed Mr. Qureshi about the difficulties being faced by the Afghan government in holding the upcoming elections in Afghanistan in a successful manner,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office statement said, quoting Rabbani.
The statement added: “Mr. Rabbani also expressed the hope that both countries would continue to work together in pursuing peace and an end to the decades-old conflict in Afghanistan.”
Early on Friday Pakistan, on the request of the Kabul government, closed the gates along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border for two days.
The decision to shut down the crossings along the Chaman and Torkham border was taken to help Kabul conduct its parliamentary elections seamlessly.