Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi stressed the need to "start a new page" in the history of the South Asian nation.
Pakistan wants Russia and China to play a proactive role in restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan, where the US-led Nato forces are struggling to contain terrorism linked to Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing an International Conference on Afghanistan under aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here on Friday, stressed the need to "start a new page" in the history of the South Asian nation.
"The Afghan population deserves peace, progress, economic recovery and development, which he said was achievable with long-term participation of the international community. Russia and China could play a key role in improving the situation in the impoverished state," Qureshi was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
The SCO regional security group comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Russia took over the presidency of the organization last August. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status in the regional group.
Satinder Lambah, Indian prime minister's Special Envoy, is representing New Delhi at the SCO conference, attended by foreign ministers and high-level diplomats from SCO member and observer states, as well as Afghanistan, the US and Turkey.
The UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, and representatives from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) are also taking part in the conference in Moscow.
In his message to the participants, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev described the meet as "an important and much-needed event."
"You are to discuss a whole number of serious issues directly concerning the interests of Afghanistan, other countries in the region, and the entire international community. They include such crucial problems as fighting terrorism, illegal drugs trafficking, and trans-border crime," Medvedev said, in his message read by foreign minister Sergei Lavrov at the start of the one-day event.
Medvedev said it is impossible to carry out reconstruction work without guaranteeing stability and security throughout the entire country and Afghanistan needs international help and support more than ever.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}