President Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan is working with the whole world for international peace and stability and in this regard Pakistan desires friendly relations with the whole world in accordance with the principles of peaceful coexistence.
The President said this while addressing on the occasion of Iftar Dinner hosted in honour of Ambassadors of Islamic countries at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.
President Mamnoon noted that the Islamic world is confronted with grave issues which, apart from political crises, include problems like extremism, mass migration, ignorance, illiteracy and poverty. The President stated that there is a need to adopt a comprehensive and joint strategy to address these challenges and defeat the forces involved in defaming Islam and causing bloodshed in the Muslim world.
President Mamnoon further said that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a priority of our foreign policy and we desire to have friendly relations based on respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity adding that Pakistan wholeheartedly supports an Afghan led and Afghan owned reconciliation process to usher in an era of peace and stability in that country.
The President said that Pakistan is keen to have a meaningful, result oriented and constructive dialogue on all issues with India. He further said that Iran has an important role to play for peace, stability and progress of the region and promotion of peaceful neighbourhood. “Pakistan is also working to further deepen and broaden its close and friendly relations with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states and in this regard, special importance is being given to increasing cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and energy” remarked the President.
President Mamnoon said that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state, which accords highest importance to nuclear non-proliferation and safety of nuclear material and in this regard, our arrangements are at par with international standards. He added that Pakistan wants a non-discriminatory criteria-based approach for NSG membership.
The President lamented that today we are more divided in our ranks as compared to the past adding that the increasing schism amongst Muslim countries has made it more difficult for us to confront challenges because our energies are being consumed in reconciling mutual differences instead of confronting the enemy. Therefore it is imperative that we focus all our energies on resolving the issues facing Muslim Ummah by forging unity in our ranks and rising above our differences as no country can face these challenges single handedly, emphasised the President.
President Mamnoon said that during this blessed month, we should not forget our Kashmiri and Palestinian brothers who are continuously suffering at the hands of foreign occupation. The President underscored that we should collectively raise our voice in support of their just rights for resolution of their long-standing problems.
President Mamnoon stated that the exemplary and time-tested Pakistan-China relations have now transformed into a strategic partnership.
The President noted that Pakistan has close and friendly relations with the Russian Federation and Central Asian states adding that TAPI gas pipeline and CASA-1000 projects are of extraordinary importance, which would help in meeting our energy needs. Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline is also of great significance in this context, added the President.
President Mamnoon said that during the last few years, relations with the European Union (EU) have further improved and the European community gave us GSP+ status sometime back, which has further boosted our exports. We have long standing ties with the United States, which is deepening further through strategic dialogue, stated the President.
The President appreciated that regional countries have extended extraordinary cooperation in arriving at a decision to make Pakistan a full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for which we are thankful to them. President Mamnoon said that the blessings of Ramadan have improved our brotherly relations and mutual understanding and we should derive maximum benefit during this Holy Month.
The President said that fasting teaches us generosity and patience which generates spirit of sacrifice for each other.
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