Qureshi stresses need for recognition, dialogue of new Afghan reality.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that the world has been waiting and watching the situation in Afghanistan, but it needs to come to terms with the new reality if it wishes to open the doors to dialogue with the Taliban and pave the right way forward.

Addressing a presser alongside Spanish FM Jose Manuel Albares after holding delegation-level talks, Qureshi stated that he had gathered from his interactions with colleagues that 'people are not in a hurry and are watching and waiting'.

'There is recognition of a new reality and there is the awareness that engagement is required and that dialogue can be useful,' Qureshi stressed.

'There is a new reality in Afghanistan. The world must recognise that new reality and engage with it. Weigh your options [and decide] what is the best way forward.

'In my view, the best way forward is international engagement as opposed to international isolation,' he said, adding that the latter will have undesirable consequences.

'It will not be helpful for Afghanistan, the region and eventually not be helpful for [the world],' the foreign minister said.

He stressed that a 'new approach' needed to be adopted, adding that intimidation, pressure and coercion had not worked - a fact that must be accepted.

Qureshi said positive outcomes needed to be incentivized.

The foreign minister pointed to the...