- Says Pakistan, Turkmenistan enjoy friendly relations
ISLAMABAD, August 3: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday remarked that Kashmir issue is the main pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy, sources reported.
Speaking at the concluding session of the three-day conference of Pakistani envoys in Islamabad, the Prime Minister stated that desire of freedom is running in the blood of Kashmiris.
He urged the envoys to convey a message to the world that Kashmir issue is not the internal matter of India.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the need for addressing challenges facing the country before they complicate further.
He said there are issues on which Pakistan has concerns and it expects other countries to take care of them.
He said other countries might also have legitimate concerns and we will have to understand them.
Earlier today, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan is today more connected with the world than before.
Aziz said the objective assessment of three years does not support the view being projected in a section of media that Pakistan is being isolated and its foreign policy lags directions.
We are, in fact, now more integrated than before, he added.
He also noted that Pakistan resumed strategic dialogue with the United States and further broadened agenda of security and economic development while protecting Pakistan’s vital national interests.
He said Pakistan also has strong ties with European Union and Russian Federation.
Sartaj Aziz 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 nine hundred and fifty thousand workers.
These include 523 million to Saudi Arabia and 326 million to UAE which is a big addition in a single year to our work force abroad.
He also dwelt at Pakistan’s active role in UN and other regional bodies.
Envoys including Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani (Washington DC), Ambassador Masood Khalid (Beijing), High Commissioner Abdul Basit (New Delhi), Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi (UN New York), Ambassador Ayesha Riyaz (Vienna), Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi (Brussels / EU), Ambassador Abrar Hussain (Afghanistan), Ambassador Tehmina Janjua (UN/Geneva) and Ambassador Qazi M. Khalilullah (Moscow) attended the conference.
The Envoys’ Conference is a regular feature in which Pakistan’s representatives in various regions brief the government on important developments in their respective areas of accreditation, and challenges and opportunities arising out of such developments.
The envoys also present their recommendations towards existing foreign policy with a view to review, adapt and recalibrate policy in accordance with the prevalent strategic, political and economic trends. Last year’s Envoys’ Conference had focussed on connectivity, and regional issues and developments.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Mrs Akja Nurberdiyeva, along with a delegation called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at PM House on Wednesday.
Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister said that frequent exchanges of Parliamentary delegations would prove to be enormously beneficial for strengthening of Democracy in the two brotherly countries. The Prime Minister further said that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoy friendly relations, but there are huge opportunities to further expand the scope of our bilateral relationship; especially enhancing the economic ties.
The Prime Minister said that Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is a flagship project of great significance for both the countries as well as the region. The earliest realization of this Gas Pipeline project would advance our shared goals of energy security and regional prosperity.
‘Apart from helping Pakistan in the fulfillment of its gas requirements, the project will integrate the region economically and politically’, added the Prime Minister. ‘We wish to see close collaboration between our parliamentarians, parliamentary committees and parliamentary friendship groups.
I convey my warmest congratulations to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and the brotherly people of Turkmenistan on the occasion of 25th anniversary of your country’s independence. Also convey my utmost regards to the President for his good wishes’, said the Prime Minister.
Mrs Akja Nurberdiyeva thanked the Prime Minister for extending warm welcome to the visiting delegation in Pakistan. ‘Let me convey the most sincere wishes and congratulations of the President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on your successful surgery’, said the Chairperson. She further said the President is personally supervising each project to ensure quality and timely completion.
Mr Tachmuhammet Gulamuhmmededov, Deputy Minister of Energy Turkmenistan informed the participants of the meeting that the TAPI gas pipeline project would be completed and operational by December 2019.
He further added that 15 KM pipeline has already been laid while geological and technical work is currently underway for another 80 KM pipeline.
The visiting delegation also included Mr Maksat Babayev, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, H.E Mr Atadjan N. Movlamov, Ambassador to Pakistan and other parliamentarians. The meeting was also attended by Sardar Muhammad Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly, Mr Tariq Fatemi, SAPM, Ms Shakila Luqman, MNA and other senior officials. -Agencies/DNA
