The message came from the president of the war-torn country, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan and Pakistan from 43 countries, he said that the meeting hosted by the UAE demonstrated the importance given by this region’s countries to the Afghan issue, with a strong Arab participation by the GCC countries, Egypt and Jordan, official news agency Wam reported.
Shaikh Abdullah described a recent study on the situation in Afghanistan as a “positive indicator” for growing hope among the people there. The Abu Dhabi meeting had played a positive role in preparing for the foreign ministers’ meeting in London on January 28, he said.
“The meeting will have a major role to play after the next speech of the Afghanistan President. Everyone is looking forward to a clear message by the President of Afghanistan to the different parties there. I believe this will be followed by international efforts to help elements that seek to abandon extremist groups there and lead a normal life in Afghanistan,” Shaikh Abdullah said, referring to Hamid Karzai’s anticipated speech at the London conference.
Shaikh Abdullah urged greater GCC involvement on the issue “as this will send a message that we are very much concerned with helping our brothers in Afghanistan”.
Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the meeting discussed the current situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and ways to boost stability in the two countries, as well as a mechanism for coordination in the reconstruction operations.
Ali Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said the meeting confirmed UAE’s continuous collaboration with the international community in support of the security and stability in the two South Asian neighbours.
“Results and recommendations from this meeting will contribute (to a) positive outcome at the London Conference, which will be held on January 28,” he said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed his appreciation to the UAE government for taking this timely initiative. “The UAE stands tall as a global beacon of dynamism and development,” he added.
The meeting is attended by Nasser Judah, Jordanian Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Rangin Dadfar Spanta Afghan Foreign Minister and Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan.
