In his address at ISSI , Ishaq Dar outlines key priorities of Pakistan’s foreign policy

ISLAMABAD, June 28 (SABAH): In his address at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) this week, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar outlined key priorities of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He called for leveraging Pakistan’s strategic location and advocating for international cooperation over confrontation, with a firm support for multilateralism, promoting peaceful relations and regional stability to foster sustainable economic development.

He emphasized the importance of humanitarian cooperation in Afghanistan and ensuring that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against its neighbours. The Deputy Prime Minister also delved upon seeking peaceful relations with India based on mutual respect, resolving the Kashmir dispute, and rejuvenating SAARC, while rejecting India’s unilateral actions in IIOJK.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed upon strengthening the strategic partnership with China, especially through the advancement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), deepening ties with Iran, Gulf nations, Türkiye, Central Asian states, and Azerbaijan and maintaining balanced relations with major global powers like the US, China, Russia, the EU, Japan, and ASEAN to enhance Pakistan’s diplomatic flexibility.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also expressed concern over pressing global issues such as ongoing conflicts, humanitarian crises, unresolved disputes like Palestine and Kashmir, arms race and technological militarization, rising extremism and populism, economic and environmental challenges and the weakening of multilateral institutions.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasized the need for political stability and economic growth as pillars of Pakistan’s foreign policy, enabling the country to fulfill its potential as a positive force in global affairs.

Pakistan and Sweden held the 18th round of Bilateral Political Consultations in Islamabad on 26 June 2024. Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe), Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, led the Pakistani delegation, while Director General and Head of the Global Department at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented Sweden.

The two sides reviewed the breadth of bilateral cooperation and agreed to enhance cooperation, aiming for a comprehensive relationship grounded in strong economic ties.

Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia & Pacific) Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui represented Pakistan at the 19th Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), held in Tehran on 24 June 2024.

At the conference, Ambassador Siddiqui emphasized the significance of promoting regional connectivity and leveraging complementarities among member states. He also underscored the importance of strengthening sub-regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms within Asia to effectively address issues of foreign occupation and persecution, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.

We deeply regret the Resolution 901 adopted by the House of Representatives of the United States. The resolution clearly stems from an inadequate and erroneous understanding of the political and electoral processes of Pakistan. It is also an unsolicited interference in Pakistan’s domestic affairs.

We believe that bilateral relations between countries should be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. The unsolicited interference from the US Congress is therefore neither welcome nor acceptable.

The timing and context of Resolution 901 are also not conducive for the current positive trajectory of bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States. Pakistan would like to develop its relations with the United States on the basis of mutual trust, confidence and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.

We also hope that the US Congress will play a more constructive role in strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations by focusing on avenues of collaboration for mutual benefit of the two nations.

Pakistan strongly condemns the indiscriminate bombing of Beit Lahiya city in northern Gaza by Israeli forces killing women and children. The indiscriminate acts of collective punishments constitute war crimes and flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Pakistan deplores Israel’s actions as war crimes against the people of Gaza and emphasise the urgent need for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties.

We remain concerned about the continued suppression of the democratic rights of the Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). 

A few days ago, the Indian authorities banned the elections of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA), and arrested former President of the Bar Association, Mian Qayoom. Earlier, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, the Kashmiris were not allowed to congregate at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Mosque and Eid Gah for the Eid prayers. The prayer leader and prominent Kashmiri leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was also placed under house arrest.

These oppressive measures are yet another example of the autocratic approach of the Indian authorities, and a violation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights, especially the right of association and peaceful assembly. We urge the Indian authorities to respect the human rights of the Kashmiri people, and their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

  The Government of Pakistan has decided to appoint Additional Foreign Secretary (Middle East and SIFC) Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh as Pakistan’s new Ambassador to Washington DC and Ambassador Asim Iftikhar as Pakistan’s Additional Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar is currently serving as Pakistan’s ambassador to France.