ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged his Australian counterpart to ask her government to “facilitate” the Pakistani students who have been unable to return to Australia due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said on Monday that Qureshi took up the issue of Pakistani students during a telephonic conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
Pleased to receive a call from Australian FM @MarisePayne today.
➖Discussed impact of #Covid19 on return of Pakistan’s students to Australian Universities.
➖ Shared Pakistan’s constructive role in support of efforts for peace and humanitarian support for Afghanistan.
🇵🇰 🇦🇺— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) November 1, 2021
The two diplomats discussed the “whole range of issues relating to bilateral relations and regional cooperation,” said the FO.
Qureshi, while reaffirming Pakistan’s “strong desire” to “enhance cooperation”, appreciated the “steady progress in multi-dimensional bilateral relations over the years based on mutual trust and understanding.”
“The foreign minister also took up the issue of Pakistani students enrolled in different Australian Universities who have not been able to travel to Australia due to Covid-19 restrictions and sought Australia’s cooperation to facilitate their early return,” added the FO spokesperson.
Australia thanks Pakistan for ‘facilitative role’ in Afghanistan
The two foreign ministers also discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan’s role in the war-torn country after the Taliban takeover.
FM Qureshi “underscored” the need for continued engagement of the international community with Afghanistan and urgent coordinated steps for mobilisation of much needed humanitarian and economic assistance for Afghanistan.
🇦🇺 & 🇵🇰 have common interests in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Today, I discussed with 🇵🇰 counterpart @SMQureshiPTI our respective support to Afghanistan. 🇦🇺+🇵🇰 look forward to the future return of 🇵🇰 students to 🇦🇺 after double vaccination. pic.twitter.com/UJ68g6yiO9
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) November 1, 2021
Meanwhile, the Australian foreign minister also conveyed her government’s “profound gratitude for Pakistan’s facilitative role in the safe evacuation of their nationals and others from Afghanistan”. She also reciprocated the desire to further strengthen bilateral relations between Islamabad and Canberra.