US must be involved on Afghanistan after troops leave: FM.

WASHINGTON DC -- Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said the United States must remain engaged in Afghanistan's reconstruction even if it succeeds in withdrawing troops and ending the longest war of its history. The foreign minister is currently in the US on the third leg of his mission to defuse tensions in the Middle East, having already visited Tehran and Riyadh as part of Pakistan's diplomatic efforts. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Qureshi said: 'Peace in Afghanistan is ultimately a shared responsibility and Pakistan [...] alone cannot do all that is needed'.

The foreign minister warned the US not to neglect Afghanistan, as was seen after 1989 when Soviet troops pulled out under pressure from guerrillas fighters backed by Washington and Islamabad. 'Do not repeat the '80s,' he said, adding: 'Even if there is a successful agreement, challenges will remain there, so the United States and its friends and coalition partners will have to have a more responsible withdrawal. 'They should remain engaged not to fight, but to rebuild.' Qureshi said he has seen a willingness from the Taliban to reduce the violence. 'They are pragmatic and not foolish. They are also fatigued,' he said. The foreign minister is set to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today on...