The newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has unveiled foreign policy roadmap and asserted that national interests would drive country’s foreign policy.

Islamabad, June 6/Nationalturk- The newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has unveiled foreign policy roadmap in which he has stressed for peace with neighbours India and Afghanistan.

In a message to all heads of Pakistan’s missions, PM Nawaz said a policy of an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process of peace and reconciliation would be pursued by Pakistan.

Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of meddling into its affairs by supporting Taliban militia, the charge repeatedly denied by Pakistan’s civilian government and military.

Referring to country’s arch rival and ‘nuclear foe’ India, he stressed on the need to progressively pursue normalcy in bilateral relations while actively seeking solutions for all outstanding issues including the disputed Kashmir.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars on Kashmir and were close to nuclear war during 1998 Kargil war. India accuses Pakistan of fomenting militancy in Indian administered Kashmir. However, Pakistan has been denying the charge saying militancy is indigenous movement of Kashmir.

“Unless the region is peaceful, our efforts for growth and development will not meet with success. I stress on the importance of developing regional consensus on supporting a stable government and peace in Afghanistan,” Nawaz Sharif said.

‘US-Pakistan have many areas of common interest’

On relations with United States, the new Pakistan premier said the two countries have many areas of common interest. “We will build on convergence and wherever there is divergence, we will work to try to minimise and remove such divergence.”

On ties with Pakistan’s all-weather ally, he said, “China has always been a great friend and a significant economic partner. Pakistan will strengthen this valuable and much appreciated strategic relationship.”

He said Pakistan will continue to enhance ties with Russia, which is an important partner and regional power.

We would strengthen relations with Middle East: Nawaz

The premier also expressed his desire to strengthen relations with Middle East countries. “Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran were friendly countries with which Pakistan would continue to pursue close cooperative relations”.

“Despite its recent economic troubles, Europe remained an important player on the global scene and was Pakistan’s largest trading partner. We would continue to engage with European countries, both bilaterally with individual countries, as well as multilaterally with the European Union,” he said.

“The national interests would drive Pakistan’s foreign policy in all circumstances, and there was an across the board consensus on this,” added Nawaz.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

 

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