ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said improving trade and economic ties with Afghanistan is the country’s priority.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he provided an overview of the government’s efforts to achieve economic stability and strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic presence through both bilateral and multilateral engagements.
The most recent development in this regard is the start of Pakistan’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025-26.
He said that the government was making every effort to accomplish the country’s journey from only being a nuclear power to becoming an economic power.
Mentioning the high-level exchanges, and Pakistan’s participation in and hosting of global events, he said the incumbent government had strived to boost the country’s diplomatic footprint during its first 10 months, which led to the impression of an “isolated Pakistan” being buried.
Responding to a question, Ishaq Dar expressed Pakistan’s firm commitment to fighting terrorism. He said improving trade and economic relations with Afghanistan is our priority, and that this will also improve our connection with the Central Asian states.
Regarding India, he said it takes two to tango. He added Pakistan is ready, provided there is goodwill from the Indian side. However, he stressed that it must be a two-sided effort.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence in the positive trend of economic indicators, highlighting that inflation has dropped to five percent, while exports and remittances continue to grow. He emphasised that, as a nuclear and missile power, Pakistan will secure its rightful place in the global community through sustained economic progress.
He said that following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visits and effective engagements with the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Azerbaijan, there were indications of around $29 billion investment coming into Pakistan.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit, World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, the summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Gambia, and visits by the Saudi foreign minister, Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister.
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He said that during all the above interactions, Pakistan had effectively raised the issue of Kashmir and the ongoing Israeli decimation of the Palestinian population. Deputy Prime Minister added that Pakistan’s constant efforts at the OIC summit in Gambia led to the appointment of an OIC envoy on Islamophobia.
He noted that Pakistan was among the very few countries that strongly advocated the implementation of UN resolutions on Palestine and the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the issue, besides strongly condemning Israel’s barbarism against innocent people.
He mentioned that, in addition to hosting Palestinian medical students, Pakistan had also sent relief aid to Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon.
On his multiple discussions with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, FM Dar noted that a UK monitoring team was set to visit Pakistan in January, potentially paving the way for the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines flights to the United Kingdom, following the European Union’s lifting of the ban on the national carrier.
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Dar also highlighted that Pakistan’s hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit had received widespread praise and positive feedback. He further informed the media that the World Muslim League would soon organise an event focused on education for girls at Jinnah Convention Centre that would be attended by 50 delegates from OIC states, including 30 ministers.
The deputy PM also said that as Pakistan had started its two-year term as a non-permanent UN Security Council member, the country would make efforts to enhance diplomatic outreach, work for dispute resolution, and uphold the UN charter.
Responding to a question, FM Dar told the media that Pakistan had eliminated terrorism in 2018 but it resurfaced due to the previous government’s policy of opening the Afghan border and releasing hardcore criminals.
