Confrontation to halt progress: PM
 

Says Pakistan today better placed to attract foreign investment; atrocities in occupied Kashmir **t internal matter of India; world is watching new wave of freedom movement in IHK; asks Pak envoys to fight Kashmir’s case with new enthusiasm



ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, highlighting the importance of sustainable peace and development in the region, has said that the resolution of issues with other countries through peaceful means was the need of the hour.

While addressing the concluding session of three-day-long envoys conference here on Wednesday, the prime minister said: “We can**t afford clash [with other countries], lest our ongoing eco**mic and social progress come to a halt.”

He, however, said the country’s efforts for maintaining peace on the basis of mutual respect and balance should **t be considered as its weakness. “We believe in respect for each other’s solidarity, independence and **n-interference,” he said, adding that Pakistan was in favour of global peace.

Earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in his welcome address said that Pakistan was more connected with the world than it was before as the objective assessment of three years did **t support the view being projected in a section of the media that Pakistan was being isolated and its foreign policy lacked directions.

Prime Minister Nawaz, who also holds the portfolio of foreign affairs, provided guidelines to the envoys pertaining to the required trends in the foreign policy in the backdrop of the regional as well as global developments, and emphasised the need for addressing the challenges facing the country before they get further complicated.

The concluding session of the envoys’ conference to important capitals and multilateral organisations was held at the Foreign ****** and it was also attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minster (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and National Security Adviser (NSA) to the PM Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua.

The prime minister said that there were issues on which Pakistan had concerns and it expected other countries to take care of them, while other countries might also have legitimate concerns and we would have to understand them. He said: “Pakistan is better placed today to attract foreign investment and in this regard our envoys have a responsibility on their shoulders to project the country's positive image abroad.”

Regarding relations with China, the prime minister said these have strengthened with the passage of time. He said the China-Pakistan Eco**mic Corridor (CPEC) would prove to be a game changer and guarantee regional peace and prosperity. “Through this mega project we are introducing a new vision of relationship. This project carries opportunities for Iran, Afghanistan and the Central Asian States.”

He said that China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan and expressed satisfaction that this relationship has transformed into a multidimensional partnership. “We are determined to take Si**-Pak relationship to new heights.” Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan would have to play a proactive role simultaneously at multiple fronts. He said Pakistan has been freed of the menace of terrorism to a great extent and **w a comprehensive strategy is being evolved to purge the country of extremism in order to completely weed out the terrorism.

With the grace of Allah Almighty, the terrorist sanctuaries have been eliminated for which our security forces deserve applause. He urged the ambassadors to introduce positive image of Pakistan to the outside world. He said responsibility rests with the envoys to introduce Pakistan as emerging market in the world which is far more strong and stable than in the past. He said Pakistan has the required infrastructure and offers incentives which are necessary to attract the foreign investment. He said the Ambassadors should take promotion of investment in the country as their mission and it will also be test of their eco**mic diplomacy.

Turning to Kashmir dispute, the prime minister said resolution of this lingering dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is the corner stone of Pakistan's foreign policy. Today Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of freedom movement. This movement is running into the bloods of third generation of Kashmiri people and the world has itself seen its intensity in the wake of July 8. He said the Kashmiri youth are writing new chapters of sacrifices to get the right to self determination. He said the ambassadors should apprise the world that atrocities in Indian–held Kashmir (IHK) are **t an internal matter of India. He said India itself has accepted Kashmir as a disputed territory. He asked the ambassadors to fight Kashmir case with new enthusiasm.

About Afghanistan, the premier said peace in the country is vital for peace and stability in Pakistan. He said the QCG process should be taken forward, adding, Pakistan will always support efforts aimed at reviving peace in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has a clear stance that it will **t allow its territory to be used against any other country.

Sartaj Aziz said we are, in fact, **w more integrated than before. He said prime minister's vision of a strong, vibrant and prosperous Pakistan and peaceful neighborhood has been pursued with great dedication. He said monumental achievements of the government in foreign policy are reflected in the CPEC and strategic partnership with China.

Similarly, Pakistan has today more engagement and cooperation with Central Asian Republics as reflected in CASA-1000 electricity import project and TAPI gas pipeline project. The adviser said Pakistan achieved full membership of SCO reflecting new geo-political realignment of the region which will prove that Pakistan is on the right side of history. He also **ted that Pakistan resumed strategic dialogue with the United States and further broadened agenda of security and eco**mic development while protecting Pakistan's vital national interests.

Sartaj said Pakistan also has strong ties with European Union and Russian Federation. He said Pakistan has expanded its ties with the Muslim world and it is because of this that despite decline in oil prices last year, Pakistan exported 950,000 workers. These include 523,000 to Saudi Arabia and 326,000 to the UAE which is a big addition in a single year to our work force abroad.

The ambassadors/ high commissioners who attended the conference were Pakistan’s permanent representative for the United Nations Ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jailani (United States), Ambassador Masood Khalid (China), High Commissioner Abdul Basit (India), Ambassador Ms Ayesha Riaz (Austria/IAEA), Ms Naghmana Hashmi (Belgium/EU), Ambassador Ms Tehmina Janjua (United Nations/Geneva), Ambassador Qazi M Kahlilullah (Russian Federation), Ambassador Abrar Hussain (Afghanistan). Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Special Secretary Foreign Affairs Abdul Waheed, Chief of Protocol Sahibzada Ahmad Khan, additional foreign secretaries, director generals and Spokesperson of the Foreign ****** Nafees Zikria were also among the attendees of the conference.





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