By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Tayyab Erdogan had invited PM Shehbaz Sharif to participate in the launching ceremony of PNS Khaibar at the Istanbul Shipyard.
PNS-Khyber is the 3rd of the four MILGEM Corvette Ships built for Pakistan Navy by Turkish state-owned defence company M/s ASFAT under a contract signed in 2018. Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in her weekly briefing on Friday said that in Istanbul, the PM held wide-ranging consultations with President Erdogan in both one-on-one and delegate in level formats. The PM conveyed its deepest condolences of Pakistan over the terrorist bomb attack on Istiklal Street in Istanbul on 13 November 2022.
Bilateral relations besides regional situation were discussed at length. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties, increase trade and economic engagement, and strengthen strategic dialogue and defence cooperation. They also discussed energy and connectivity projects.
PM Met resident of ECO Trade:
She said the PM also met with the President of ECO Trade and Development Bank (ETDB) and leaders of the Turkish business community. In an address to the business leaders at an event organized by Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK), the PM highlighted investment opportunities in Pakistan especially in food processing, hospitality, construction, IT services and e-commerce. He expressed confidence that the recently-signed Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA) will trigger higher volumes of bilateral trade. Pakistan and Turkiye are close friends and partners and will continue to maintain robust dialogue and engagement at all levels.
Minister of State Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar undertook a one-day visit to Afghanistan on 29 November 2022. In Kabul, she held meetings with Amir Khan Mutaqqi, Acting Foreign Minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy PM, Shahabuddin Delawar, Minister for Mines and Petroleum and Haji Nooruddin Azizi, Commerce Minister of the Afghan Interim Government. During the visit she discussed a range of bilateral issues including cooperation in education, health, agriculture, trade and investment, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts and socioeconomic projects. Matters related to regional security were also discussed.
During her engagements, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, stable and connected Afghanistan. She underscored that the two countries were not only tied by bonds of religion, culture and history but their futures were also intrinsically linked. Pakistan, therefore, had a natural stake in peace and stability in Afghanistan. During the last twenty years, Pakistan has continued to follow this policy.
The Minister of State also highlighted the need for practical engagement especially in the areas of trade, commerce, connectivity and socio-economic development. Both sides had similar views on enhanced regional connectivity including projects such as CASA1000 and TAPI gas pipeline project. There was a shared intention to enhance bilateral economic trade and transit trade.
The Minister of State held a luncheon meeting with a delegation of Afghan Women Chamber of Commerce, led by their Vice Chair, Mumtaz Yusufzai. Acknowledging the important role being played by women in the economic development of Afghanistan, the Minister of State encouraged further strengthening of bonds between the enterprises of Pakistan and Afghanistan.She also assured the Women enterprises of Pakistan’s willingness to facilitate women-led businesses exporting items to Pakistan. Pakistan will also facilitate Afghanistan in access to healthcare and facilitate those coming to Pakistan for medical treatment.
This week’s visit of the Minister of State to Kabul was meant to convey the importance that Pakistan accords to its longstanding fraternal ties with Afghanistan. We wished to reiterate Pakistan’s commitment to work with Afghanistan to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation across the entire spectrum of our bilateral relations. We wish to pursue a dialogue to further expand and consolidate ties with Afghanistan in the areas of economy and trade, connectivity and people-to-people contacts. We also wanted to discuss how the two countries could together work towards unlocking the inherent potential of Afghanistan, as a hub of connectivity and regional integration, with benefits for the entire region.
From Pakistan’s perspective, the visit carried great significance. This was the first high-level political visit from Pakistan in the last several months and a tangible manifestation of our intention to continue our engagement with Afghanistan and to discuss all issues of concern to Pakistan.
In the various meetings, our key concerns and preferences were clearly spelt out in a candid and constructive manner. The two sides agreed to develop institutional mechanisms for robust follow up to address various bilateral issues. Going forward, Pakistan will continue to maintain this momentum.
As part of Pakistan’s deepening engagement with the European Union and its member states, Acting Foreign Secretary Jauhar Saleem undertook a two-day visit to Luxembourg and Brussels. In Luxembourg, the Acting Foreign Secretary led the inaugural session of Pakistan-Luxembourg Bilateral Political Consultations on 28 November 2022. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the education, health, science and technology and developing start-up linkages.
On 29 November, the Acting Foreign Secretary co-chaired the 8th Round of Pakistan-European Union Political Dialogue in Brussels. In the dialogue, a wide range of areas were discussed. The two sides agreed to intensify engagement and dialogue to promote political ties and trade and investment relations. GSP plus, migration issues, education and climate change were discussed. Issues of regional and global importance also came under discussion. We see the political dialogue with the EU as a key institutional mechanism to foster dialogue and cooperation and to strengthen our multifaceted ties in all areas of mutual interest.
The Palestinian people have suffered under illegal Israeli occupation for over seven decades. In his statement, the PM reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support to the people of Palestine. Pakistan continues to support a two-state solution of the Palestinian issue, as enshrined in relevant United Nations resolutions.
Gujrat riots
The recent statement by former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shankersinh Vaghela and Amit Shah, India’s Home Minister have confirmed BJP leadership’s direct involvement in anti-Muslim violence during the horrific Gujarat riots of 2002 that led to the massacre of over 2000 Muslims. It is an internationally acknowledged fact that Modi who was then the Gujrat Chief Minister was directly responsible for fomenting anti-Muslim riots and the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat.
In 2002, this massacre was perpetrated for BJP’s political gains and twenty years later, once again BJP is fomenting communal hatred for political gains including in the upcoming elections in Gujarat. India must end the ongoing incitement to communal violence and constitute an independent Commission of Inquiry to bring to justice the culprits of the horrific Godhra incident and the Gujarat riots.
The 6th of December this year marks 30 years of the demolition of Babri Mosque by BJP-RSS zealots. It serves as a reminder that space has become restricted for minorities in India.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan is also seriously concerned over the decision this week by Indian National Investigation Agency’s Delhi court to award life imprisonment to five innocent Kashmiri youth in a fabricated case. These young Kashmiris were denied justice because of their Kashmiri background. This case, like countless others, is reflective of India’s continued campaign to suppress the voice of Kashmiris and to deny them their rights.
In IIOJK, the Modi regime is continuing to pursue the Hindutva agenda of RSS and disempowering Kashmiris by turning them into a minority in their own land. In its latest move, it has added over 700,000 new voters in the electoral rolls. Majority of these so-called new voters are non-Kashmiris and retired personnel of Indian forces. The move is aimed at advancing the electoral prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party in IIOJK and a clear violation of the 4th Geneva Conventions that assign special responsibilities to the occupying power.
She called upon India to end its gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK, revoke its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, and free all political prisoners including the true Kashmiri leaders.
