NEWS DESK
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday stressed enhanced bilateral economic cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan in diverse fields.
During an interview with an Indonesian Television channel, the foreign minister opined that a large scope of cooperation existed between Indonesia and Pakistan.
Bilawal said that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing a joint ministerial commission between the two countries, adding that the bilateral and economic relations between the two states had more potential, which required to be unlocked.
Bilawal said the first and the second largest Muslim countries working together on any issues had big scope.
Pakistan, Indonesia economic cooperation
“I believe the limit is the sky, and a lot can be changed,” he said, adding that they were keen to enhance the bilateral economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
The foreign minister observed that both countries had already cooperated at multilateral fora, including OIC, ASEAN, UN, G77, and other global bodies.
To a question, the foreign minister said that Pakistan had gained experience in combating terrorism and that both countries could learn from each other’s experiences.
He further mentioned that roots of hatred, division, extremism, and terrorism, which also led to Islamophobia internationally, were the other issues over which Indonesia and Pakistan should work together.
Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan
To a query about Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar had recently visited Afghanistan with a delegation.
She held ‘productive and meaningful engagements with the Afghan interim government authorities over a host of issues and the most important issue of terrorism.
The foreign minister reiterated that they all wanted to see a peaceful, prosperous, and progressive Afghanistan.
“No one wants Afghanistan to become a hotbed or launching pad of terrorists’ attacks in the region or anywhere else. We are hopeful the one-year-old Afghan interim government will not only address the issue of terrorism, but also provide security because that’s a fundamental prerequisite for peace and prosperity,” he added.
He said Pakistan and Afghan were neighbors and would remain neighbors.
Foreign Minister Bilawal said it was in Pakistan’s interests to have peace in Afghanistan. When there is a stable country, a prosperous country, they would not have to be worried about the massive exodus of refugees, terrorism, and the associated threats.
He added that it would also create economic opportunities for the people of Pakistan and the Afghans.
The foreign minister underlined that the world should engage with the Afghan people in a meaningful way because they were all tired of wars and conflicts as the Afghan generations, one after another, went through these conflicts.
He expressed the hope that there would be a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, adding Afghanistan required global support and engagement as the fate and future of the country were in the hands of the people of Afghanistan.
Responding to another question, the foreign minister said they were very confident that the people of Pakistan would overcome the political and economic challenges and strengthen the democratic system.
He said Pakistan was committed to women’s empowerment and education opportunities and would continue advocating such a cause internationally. He added that Pakistan had been the first Muslim country where a woman served as a prime minister.
