Pakistan pursuing balanced foreign policy: Shaukat Aziz
27 June, 2006
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| Pakistan pursuing balanced foreign policy: Shaukat Aziz |
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said country is pursuing balanced foreign policy adding Pakistan is keen to forge robust friendly ties with international community, US and European Union (EU).
"Country’s foreign policy is balanced and we want strong, stable friendly relations with all neighboring countries, US , EU and international community", he said this in his key note address at inaugural session of 4-day Envoys Conference here Monday.
Besides Pakistan envoys in five permanent members of UN, envoys and high commissioners from key capitals of the world, India, Afghanistan, ASEAN and EU are participating in the conference.
Conference is aimed at bringing more improvement in the country’s foreign policy in the backdrop of evolving regional and global situation. The recommendations to be worked out in this conference would be sent to the President and Prime Minister.
Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country. " We are peace loving country. Pakistan has played pivotal role in war on terror, anti crimes and anti smuggling campaign and other global issues. Country’s peacekeeping forces are still rendering services under UN umbrella in riot-torn areas and are working for the cause of global peace.
He underscored that due to adoption of prudent policies over the past seven years by the government, not only the economy of the country has gown viable and robust but also country’s defence has been made impregnable. "We will give befitting reply to any aggression. We will make our country stronger for the sake of peace as peace does not come through weakness", he underlined.
He urged Pakistan envoys in other countries to play vital role to safeguard the interests of country and to achieve the objectives of country’s foreign policy besides countering the propaganda of enemy’s lobby. He also stressed that the envoys should discharge their diplomatic obligations to boosting closer economic and trade ties with US, EU, ASEAN, SAARC and other international institutions so that country’s products could seek access to the markets of these countries and our exports could pick up.
On Pakistan-India relations, Prime Minister said Pakistan is taking part in the dialogue process sincerely for resolution of all contentious issues including core issue of Kashmir. However the talks process should gear up now and the talks should be result-oriented, he stressed. Peace in the region will remain a distant dream without addressing the lingering dispute of Kashmir.
"We once again ask the Indian government to give positive reply to the options floated by the President General Pervez Musharraf", he maintained.
Prime Minister underscored the need for reactivating the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) platform.
He also appreciated the efforts of President General Pervez Musharraf for taking forward country’s role in war against terrorism to international level.
Foreign secretary Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and foreign secretary Riaz M Khan also spoke on the occasion.
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