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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Pakistan’s newly appointed ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, on Monday and said he hoped the envoy would help strengthen relations between the two neighbors. 
“Peace in Afghanistan is vital for peace and stability in the region,” the foreign minister said as he discussed Pak-Afghan relations and the Afghan peace process with Khan. 
Qureshi congratulated Khan on his appointed and said he had been given the new responsibilities in view of his “excellent services.”
“You are going to assume your responsibilities as an ambassador at a time when Pakistan is facing many challenges both internally and externally,” the FM said, adding that peace in Afghanistan was vital for regional stability and that he hoped Khan’s appointment would “help further strengthen Pak-Afghan bilateral relations.”
Khan has previously served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Vienna.
Late last week, the Afghan government named a career diplomat, Najibullah Alikhil, as its new ambassador to Pakistan, to replace Atif Mashal who resigned in July this year.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have both named new ambassadors at a time when key intra-Afghan talks between the Kabul government and the Afghan Taliban are about to begin.
Islamabad’s role is considered vital for arranging these talks.