EU appreciates Pakistan's role in Afghanistan

• EU ambassador Kaminara meets COAS General Bajwa.
• Ambassador pledges to boost relations with Pakistan at all levels.
• COAS says that Pakistan values its relations with EU countries.

The European Union on Wednesday appreciated Pakistan's role in the evolving Afghanistan situation, as Islamabad actively evacuated foreign nationals and Afghans seeking to flee the war-torn country.

The development came during European Union High Commissioner to Pakistan Androulla Kaminara's meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation, including the current situation of Afghanistan and enhanced bilateral cooperation with EU were discussed, the military's media wing said.

The meeting comes a day after the Taliban had announced the first members of a new "acting" government, three weeks after sweeping into full power with the takeover of Kabul, on August 15.

Meanwhile, the COAS said that Pakistan values its relations with the EU countries, and it earnestly looks forward to enhancing mutually beneficial multi-domain relations based on common interests.

"The ambassador lauded Pakistan's role in Afghanistan situation, including successful evacuation operations, efforts for regional stability," the military's media wing said.

The visiting dignitary pledged to play their role for further improvements in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels, the military's media wing added.

In his press conference a day earlier, the Taliban's main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had denied allegations that Pakistan interferes in Afghanistan's affairs, dismissing the speculation as baseless rumours.

"We will not allow anyone to interfere in our country's affairs," said Mujahid.

"We are working with complete freedom. We fought against different countries who were occupying our country to the best of our ability."

Mujahid said such rumours have been circulating for decades now.