ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday said that Pakistan was working with the whole world for international peace and stability and desired friendly relations with all countries on the principles of peaceful coexistence.
The President said this in his address at Iftar Dinner hosted in honour of ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, including a high number of those from Islamic countries, held at Aiwan e Sadr.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Secretary Foreign Affairs Aizaz Chaudhry also attended the Iftar Dinner.
President Mamnoon noted that the Islamic world was confronted with grave issues which, apart from political crises, include problems like extremism, mass migration, ignorance, illiteracy and poverty.
He said that there was 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.
The President further said that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was a priority of Pakistan’s foreign policy and it desired to have friendly relations based on respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan wholeheartedly supported an Afghan led and Afghan owned reconciliation process to usher in an era of peace and stability in that country, he added.
President Mamnoon said that Pakistan was 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” the President remarked.
He said that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state, which accords highest importance to nuclear non proliferation and safety of nuclear material and in this regard, our arrangements were at par with international standards.
He added that Pakistan wanted a non discriminatory criteria based approach for Nuclear Suppliers Group membership.
