Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday stressed the need to stabilise the security situation and prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where the Taliban announced an interim government earlier this week drawn exclusively from loyalist ranks.

The premier discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan and diversifying bilateral relations in a meeting with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, who called on the former in Islamabad today.

Highlighting that Pakistan "suffered enormously" due to the protracted conflict in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran underlined the importance of a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan as well as the region.

On the evolving situation in the neighbouring country, the premier emphasised that it was "vital to stabilise the security situation, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and stabilise the economy", according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Like the present, he said, Pakistan will continue to play its role for the economic uplift, humanitarian relief and assistance to Afghanistan.

Imran also called upon the international community to "stand in solidarity with the Afghan people, engage positively, and create incentives to ensure sustainable peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan", the statement said.

The premier in his remarks lauded Qatar’s role in support of the Afghan peace process.

On bilateral ties, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen mutually beneficial ties with Qatar and stressed the importance of enhanced collaboration in diverse areas, including trade and investments, energy, and enhancing people-to-people linkages.

The Qatar deputy prime minister and foreign minister, meanwhile, "acknowledged Pakistan’s important role as well as efforts for regional peace and stability", the PMO said.

The dignitary also underscored Qatar’s commitment to maintain close contact with Pakistan on bilateral and regional matters.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who also held a meeting with Al Thani, welcomed his Qatari counterpart in a tweet.

"Pakistan and Qatar have a close relationship with multifaceted bilateral cooperation. Today we reviewed our bilateral cooperation and discussed developments in Afghanistan," he wrote.

'Defreeze the Afghan assets'

At a joint presser with the Qatari leader, Qureshi said they had agreed that efforts should be made to protect the Afghan people's interests and ensure that Afghanistan "does not become an arena for proxy wars".

Stressing the need to remain cognisant of "spoilers", Qureshi said the international community should collectively ensure that such elements weren't allowed to "sow the seeds of internal confusion and chaos".

He noted that the immediate challenge was to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

“To save lives and the people of Afghanistan, there should be no strings attached,” he said

In order to avoid an economic collapse in the war-ravaged country, Qureshi while referring to Western powers said: "The first thing that you ought to do is, at least, release what is theirs. Defreeze the Afghan assets and let Afghan people utilise their money for their benefit."

A vast majority of the Afghan central bank's assets are held outside the country. A US official had said any central bank assets the Afghan government had in the United States would not be made available to the Taliban.

Discussing bilateral relations, the foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s fraternal ties with Qatar and expressed the desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

Qureshi said he had also formally requested his Qatari counterpart to allow vaccinated Pakistani travellers to Qatar to quarantine at home instead of hotels.

In his remarks, the Qatari foreign minister termed Pakistan a "strategic partner", saying Doha considered this relationship to be "multidimensional".

Al Thani said Pakistan and Qatar saw "eye to eye" on the situation in Afghanistan and wanted to see stability as soon as possible.

Echoing Qureshi's words, he said: “Humanitarian assistance should be independent from any political progress.” He said Afghans deserved to be supported despite what was happening in the political landscape.

Al Thani thanked the Taliban for allowing the Kabul airport to be operationalised and encouraged to be "more inclusive and bring all the Afghans under one umbrella".

Earlier, a statement released by the Foreign Office (FO) said Qureshi and Al Thani would focus on the developments in Afghanistan as well as bilateral relations.

The visit will "add momentum" to bilateral cooperation and strengthen coordination between the two countries on important regional and international issues, the statement said.

"Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close, cordial ties rooted deep in shared faith and values. The two countries closely collaborate on regional and global issues of common interest," it added.

"Qatar is home to more than 200,000 hardworking Pakistani expatriates contributing to national development and economic progress of both countries."

In a phone call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan underlined that after 40 years of conflict and instability, there was an opportunity to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan.

He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen political and economic ties with Qatar and appreciated its assistance to Pakistan during the Covid-19 pandemic, "in particular the care afforded to more than 200,000 Pakistani expatriates working for progress and development of both countries".

Qatar emerged as a key player in Afghanistan after the US pullout. It played an important role in US efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan.

Now it is being asked to help shape what is next for Afghanistan because of its ties with both Washington and the Taliban, who are in charge in Kabul.