Days after being snubbed at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session on Afghanistan despite Pakistan's request, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday regretted that the country was being made an "scapegoat" for the mistakes of others in Afghanistan.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Qureshi said that Pakistan itself is a victim. "We have paid a huge price... we're the victims... this has to be understood... we have 80,000 casualties and we suffered economic losses," he added.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan has pleaded its case at the international forum. "We have been saying time and again that Pakistan has no 'favourites' in Afghanistan."

He said that Pakistan had urged the United States not to abandon Afghanistan as it would create power vacuum in the war-torn country.

He reiterated that Pakistan was not supportive of a military takeover in Afghanistan, adding that his country's role in the conflict is only of a facilitator, and not of a guarantor.

Qureshi categorically rejected the allegations of Afghan leadership over Pakistan’s role in the conflict, adding that the future of Afghanistan will be decided by its people.

"If peace talks succeed then it would not be Pakistan who would get the credit but the Afghan leadership," he added.

Talking about the recent terrorists attacks in Pakistan, FM Qureshi said that Dasu, Lahore, and Quetta blasts were attempts to disrupt the progress made in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"They have their own priorities and we have our own... despite their efforts, we will continue to progress," he maintained.

He said that our spirits are high despite the attempts being made by the enemies of Pakistan to target CPEC.

FM Qureshi said that Pakistan had made a formal request to be present in the UNSC's session on Afghanistan, but unfortunately, it was not accepted.

He reminded that the request was made during a month when India was acting as president of UNSC. "We had reminded India to act objectively. However, a country aspiring for permanent seat in the Security Council did not behave in a manner that was befitting to the responsibility."

He said that by not accepting Pakistan's request, India has been in breach of its obligations as president of the UNSC.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan suffered the most due to conflict in Afghanistan after Afghanistan itself and it is the biggest stake-holder in facilitating the peace process in the neighbouring country.

FM Qureshi said that there was no military solution to the Afghan crisis and only negotiated political settlement is the way forward, which has also been endorsed by the international community.

"Pakistan played an instrumental role in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table in 2019. Pakistan facilitated the US-Taliban peace agreement in February 2020 in Doha. Pakistan also helped to convene the intra-Afghan negotiations in September 2020."

The foreign minister said that Pakistan had invited the Afghan leaders to a conference in Islamabad to discuss the way forward. This conference was postponed on the request of President Ashraf Ghani, he said. "It may be mentioned that Pakistan did not invite the Taliban to this conference," he added.

FM Qureshi said that Pakistan had played its role in Afghan peace and reconciliation process and now, it was up to the Afghan leadership to further move the intra-Afghan dialogue process.

To a question the foreign minister maintained that they had facilitated the Afghan civilians despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“Pakistan has been a generous and hospitable host to the three million Afghan refugees for four decades despite its limited resources,” he said, adding that if there was any new influx of Afghan refugees, Pakistan did not have the capacity to host them.

The foreign minister said it would be the collective responsibility of the international community and other immediate neighbours of Afghanistan in that case. "Pakistan had been urging the international community to play their due role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and for the regional peace and stability."

He said that Pakistan had accomplished about 98 per cent work on fencing of Pak-Afghan border to stop illegal movement of people.

Responding to another query, Qureshi said that Pakistan had expedited its efforts to become a member of the UNSC during 2025-26.

About the incident of Afghan ambassador’s daughter, the foreign minister said that they had shared all the details and evidences with the Afghan delegation as their moral responsibility.