Pakistan, Bahrain agree to strengthen cooperation, review Afghanistan aid efforts

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (left) speaks to Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani (right) in Bahraini capital Manama on July 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Bahrain's ministry of foreign affairs)
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  • FM Qureshi discussed with his Bahraini counterpart international aid and support for Afghanistan 
  • Pakistan has already sent planeloads of supplies to the neighbor whose economy is on the verge of collapse 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bahrain have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and remain engaged on regional matters, as they reviewed international aid efforts for Afghanistan, the Pakistani foreign office said on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan and a number of issues of bilateral importance during a phone call on Wednesday evening.
While the world is still pondering humanitarian relief for Afghanistan, where the economy has been in crisis since international donations stopped after the Taliban took control last month, Pakistan has already sent planeloads of supplies to the war-torn neighbor.
“The Foreign Minister underlined that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and the region,” the foreign office said. “He emphasized the need to meet the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people and extend development assistance.”
They also discussed the efforts of the international community to support Afghanistan and provide it with relief aid, as Qureshi called for “solidarity with the Afghan people, both in terms of financial and political support.”
During the call, the ministers also discussed “various dimensions of Pakistan-Bahrain relations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in all fields.”
In July, Qureshi visited the Gulf state to co-chair a session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission to strengthen bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including investment, energy and overseas employment.