Relations with US improving: Sartaj Aziz
02 January, 2014
ISLAMABAD: Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz has said relations with America is improving and now we are establishing independent relations.
In an interview he said some misunderstandings were created during the last two years. He said relations between the two countries were being taken in the context of Afghanistan. But now we are establishing independent relations with US and trade and economic relations are the most important.
He said strategic dialogue process has revived which was ended after 2010. He said now relations with America is improving He said peaceful neighbourhood is the first priority of the country's foreign policy and sufficient progress has been made in this direction.
Without peaceful neighbourhood we cannot achieve agenda of economic development, Aziz said. Sartaj Aziz said to achieve these objectives some basic changes has been made in the foreign policy during the last six months.
He said tension in the past two years with Afghanistan has ended and bilateral relations including economic and trade have improved.
Referring to process of Afghan reconciliation‚ he said Pakistan is extending its help in this regard. However‚ Pakistan is pursuing a policy of non-interference and no favourite. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to resolve its problems itself.
The Advisor said initiative has been taken to improve relations with India. Tensions prevailed due to some incidents on LOC but now situation has stabilized. DGMOs of the two countries have met and peace is restored.
He said full composite dialogue may not be started before elections in India but hoped that some groups will meet and peace process will make headway to some extend.
About relations with China‚ Sartaj Aziz said Prime Minister Nawaz made his first fist to China and important project of Economic Corridor started. He said efforts are being made to improve relations with Russia‚ Latin America and Africa.
He said basic objective of the foreign policy is economic revival. He said until with improve our economy‚ objectives of foreign policy cannot be achieved fully.
To a question‚ Sartaj Aziz said in contrast to previous government‚ the PML (N) Government has taken a clear stand on drone attacks and it is getting international support in this regard.
He said drone attacks are counter-productive and violative of Pakistan's sovereignty. He said there is impact of Pakistan's policy on the US and frequency of drone attacks has reduced but efforts are underway to end these attacks completely.
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