Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Afghan Peace Process provides a golden opportunity for peace that must be seized as successful culmination of the peace efforts will benefit the entire region.

In an interview with Turkish news agency, he said stakes are "very high" in Afghan peace process for the reason that if there is no political settlement, the fear of Afghanistan going into a civil war is looming over our heads.

He said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan as it has paid a huge price in terms of human and material losses because of the unstable environment in wat battered country.

He said a stable, peaceful Afghanistan is in Pakistan's national interest.

Responding to a question regarding withdrawal of US from Afghanistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it is good that the United States has finally taken a decision to meet one of the key demands of the Taliban. In the wake of the new opportunity, he urged the Taliban to remain engaged and continue with the peace process.

Regarding Pakistan-Turkey relations, the Foreign Minister said both countries share warm, friendly, cordial, and fraternal ties. He thanked Turkey for standing up for the cause of the Kashmiris and taking a very clear position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

He said, besides, President Erdogan's views are very close to the views of Prime Minister Imran Khan on the issue of Islamophobia, which is a new challenge that we are facing.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said soon he will discuss this matter with his Indonesian counterpart, while Prime Minister Imran Khan will discuss the issue of Islamophobia with Saudi leadership during his upcoming visit to the Kingdom this Ramadan.

He stressed the need to build a consensus within the Ummah and to engage with the West to tackle this issue.

On Pakistan-India relations, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan has outstanding issues with India including Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, and water and dialogue is the only sensible and civilized way to sort out problems peacefully as war will be mutually suicidal.

The Minister said Pakistan is always willing for dialogue but it was India who suspended the talks.

He said India has taken unilateral decisions repugnant to humanitarian and international laws and in violation of UN Security Council.

To a question on China Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said with the completion of CPEC, Pakistan is providing a huge opportunity to landlocked countries like Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics.