-Highlights two-year diplomatic success with focus on strengthening ties with other countries for socioeconomic development & ensuring peace
By Our Diplomatic
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said Pakistan’s stature in the comity of nations was elevated due to its perseverance in pursuit of the principles of peace, progress, security and stability.
The Foreign Minister in a tweet shared a video clip highlighting two-year diplomatic success of the country with focus on strengthening ties with other countries for socioeconomic development and ensuring peace.
The video gave glimpses of key diplomatic achievements including effective highlighting of Kashmir issue at international fora with thrice discussed at the United Nations Security Council, debt relief announced by global economic bodies on call of Prime Minister Imran Khan and countering of India’s efforts to isolate Pakistan.
A major diplomatic success included visits of world leaders to Pakistan including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad bin Salman, UAE Crown Prince Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince Wiliams and Kate Middleton, Queen Maxima of Netherlands besides UNGA President Maria Fernanda Espinosa and President-elect Volkan Bozkir.Other areas included transformation of relations with China into economic partnership with important targets achieved in Phase-II of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) & Sino-Pak Free Trade Agreement, establishment of Pak-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council and $10 billion agreement signed with Russia on laying 1,500 km offshore gas pipeline.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s key role in negotiating peace deal between the United States and Afghan Taliban and diffusing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Pakistan’s re-election to governing councils of Asia Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management & Statistical Institute for Asia and Pacific for 2019-2022 and Strategic Engagement Plan inked with European Union worth Euro 13 million, are other achievements.The long list of Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements also include return of international sports to Pakistan, opening of Kartarpur Corridor to honour longstanding desire of Sikh community, release of 8,608 Pakistani prisoners from foreign jails and reinforcement of regulations on illicit financial flows.
Launch of e-visa for citizens of 175 countries, visa on arrival for 50 countries in tourist category and 95 countries in business category and selection of Pakistan as host for World Tourism Forum 2021 also make the country get a positive global recognition.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan and chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah have discussed bilateral ties and ongoing peace process during a telephonic conversation on Wednesday.
PM Imran Khan expressed the desire to further strengthen bilateral ties between both countries. He said that there was no military solution of Afghanistan altercation except a political one. The premier also highlighted the positive role of Pakistan in the Afghanistan peace process.
He said that Pakistan is looking forward to the initiation of intra-peace dialogues in Afghanistan. Imran Khan also expressed well wishes for Dr Abdullah Abdullah for achieving targets in the forthcoming phase of peace dialogues.
Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral relations besides taking forward the Afghanistan peace process.
PM Imran Khan also invited the chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah to visit Pakistan.
It is noteworthy to mention here that a delegation of Afghan Taliban had arrived in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the Afghanistan peace process with senior Pakistani officials.
The delegation had reached the federal capital from Qatar at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliberate the Afghan peace process and other related issues.
Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office, had confirmed the other day that an Afghan Taliban delegation will be visiting Pakistan to discuss the way forward in the peace process.
