Pakistan working to reduce Middle East tensions: FO
Ibrar Hussain:
Islamabad:As Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit China from tomorrow for high-level meetings with the Chinese leadership.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan remains actively engaged on regional security, Middle East tensions, and long-standing issues, including Kashmir.
The FO said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese prime minister during his visit. He will also attend a reception ceremony in Beijing and chair the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Conference.
The visit will focus on promoting cooperation in agriculture, trade, information technology, science, industry, education and people-to-people contacts.
Andrabi said Pakistan and China have completed 75 years of diplomatic relations. He said China has helped Pakistan in every difficulty, while both countries have supported each other in challenging times.
The spokesperson said Pakistan-China relations have grown stronger with time and China continues to provide unwavering support to Pakistan.
Pakistan peace efforts in region
The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East are ongoing. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made two visits to Iran and held important meetings with Iranian leadership.
During these meetings, Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations and security issues were discussed in detail.
Pakistan also strongly condemned drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Foreign Office said targeting nuclear facilities is a serious violation of international law.
Pakistan expressed hope that such tragic incidents will not happen again, he added.
Pakistan raises Kashmir concerns
The spokesperson paid tribute to Kashmiris martyred in the May 21 incident. He said India is trying to suppress voices for human rights in Kashmir, while the international community continues to witness brutality in occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan also condemned atrocities against Kashmiri leaders and expressed concern over their illegal detention.
The Foreign Office said India seeks to spread terrorism in the region. It added that Pakistan’s lasting sacrifices to eliminate terrorism are before the world.
