AS A developing country facing serious economic & environmental challenges, Pakistan simply does not have time for the Cold War-style bloc politics that sadly seem to be making a comeback: FM Bilawal

TOKYO, July 03, (SABAH):  Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan’s position has always been clear: there can be no peace in South Asia until the region’s core dispute – the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir – is resolved through dialogue and in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles of international law. He said that India is in the grip of a form of religious hysteria that has closed out any space for dialogue and diplomacy. He said that like other Asian countries, Pakistan has benefited enormously from Japan’s experience and example.  He said that as a developing country facing serious economic and environmental challenges, Pakistan simply does not have time for the Cold War-style bloc politics that sadly seem to be making a comeback.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo on Monday on the topic “Pakistan and Japan in the Asian Context”. Tetsushi Sonobe,

Dean, Asian Development Bank Institute was also present on the occasion.

FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that it was an honour to address the Asian Development Bank Institute. As the think tank of the Asian Development Bank, the Institute has played a commendable role in helping Asian countries build their development and financial institutions. Japan’s support for the Institute is consistent with the assistance Japan has extended to Asian countries – including Pakistan – in navigating their development journeys, he said.

“As we celebrate the so-called Asian century, it is important to recall that Japan was, of course, the original Asian success story – the trailblazer for all the Asian miracles that came later. Like other Asian countries, Pakistan has benefited enormously from Japan’s experience and example. For Pakistan, Japan has been a key development partner, an important source of foreign direct investment and industrial infrastructure, including our automobile industry, he said.

He said that all this makes Japan one of Pakistan’s closest partners in Asia. As the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, it is one of my foremost priorities to give this relationship the importance that it warrants, he said.

FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said ​while Pakistan and Japan are situated in different corners of the Asian continent, we share important convergences in terms of our outlook and vision for our region.

He said that as a developing country facing serious economic and environmental challenges, Pakistan simply does not have time for the Cold War-style bloc politics that sadly seem to be making a comeback. We want to focus on delivering jobs and prosperity to our 230 million people – two-thirds of whom are below 30 years of age, he said.

“We can only do this by leveraging our strategic location at the crossroads of Central and South Asia to foster economic connectivity and generate growth. This vision is the moving force behind our shift from geopolitics to geo-economics. This is not just a rhetorical change but is rooted in the realization that business-as-usual is no longer an option” he said.

“We regard the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an important part of this vision for enhanced connectivity. Chinese investments in our power sector were a shot in the arm for Pakistan when we were facing crippling electricity cuts across the country that had paralysed our industries. But the opportunities created in Pakistan’s industrial, agricultural and energy sectors as a result of CPEC and other Chinese projects are not exclusive to any one country” he said.

FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said ​that Japanese firms have experience of working successfully and profitably in Pakistan. Their expertise in building infrastructure is second to none. By joining hands, we can create a robust and efficient infrastructure network, boosting regional connectivity, and enhancing trade volumes not only between our two countries but also across the entire region”.

He said that Pakistan and Japan also share another complementarity. We are both littoral states with vital and far-ranging maritime interests. Situated on the Indian Ocean Rim, Pakistan has long been recognized as a stakeholder in the security of the Arabian Sea – as evidenced by the number of times Pakistan has been called on to lead the multinational Combined Task Force 150. Developing a blue economy is crucial to achieving Pakistan’s economic objectives. We hope to go a lot further in this area with Japan’s assistance, he said.

FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that ​​Pakistan is cognizant that our aspirations for regional connectivity and trade would remain unfulfilled as long as lasting peace and stability in South Asia remains elusive. Pakistan’s position has always been clear: there can be no peace in South Asia until the region’s core dispute – the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir – is resolved through dialogue and in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles of international law, he said. He said that ​Pakistan has always been ready to work towards such a resolution. Tragically, Pakistan does not have a partner for peace in South Asia. India is in the grip of a form of religious hysteria that has closed out any space for dialogue and diplomacy. While this was expected given the ideology of India’s ruling party, what is surprising – and disappointing – is the silence of the international community on India’s oppression in Kashmir and its provocations against a much smaller neighbor.

FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that ​Pakistan and Japan have similar interests in Afghanistan. Both countries have stakes in Afghanistan’s peace and stability. Japan has been one of Afghanistan’s most steadfast economic partners, dating back to the time it hosted the Tokyo Conference in 2002 for Afghanistan’s reconstruction. More recently, Japan has provided crucial assistance to the Afghan people as they grapple with serious humanitarian and economic crises. By aligning our efforts, Pakistan and Japan can contribute to a stable, secure, and prosperous Afghanistan. Japan’s expertise in development assistance and Pakistan’s geographical proximity to Afghanistan can create opportunities for joint efforts in providing humanitarian aid and promoting sustainable development.

“For its part, Pakistan believes that patient and pragmatic engagement with Afghan Interim Government is crucial to advancing the international community’s shared interests in the region – whether these relate to securing Afghanistan’s counterterrorism cooperation, safeguarding Afghan women’s rights, or promoting political inclusivity within the Afghan government” he said.

“​By leveraging their respective strengths and collaborating on regional initiatives, Pakistan and Japan can also catalyse the growth and development of SAARC. Our joint efforts can help foster closer cooperation, enhance regional stability, and unlock the untapped potential of the SAARC member countries, leading to shared progress and prosperity for the entire region” he said.

“​But more than anything, Pakistan and Japan can contribute to and enrich the discourse on issues of regional importance – especially conflict resolution, poverty alleviation, Climate Change, and global health” he said.

“The devastating floods that wrought havoc and destruction across Pakistan last year reconfirmed that Pakistan is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. In the aftermath of this natural calamity, Pakistan drew international attention to the plight of countries facing the brunt of Climate Change. We led the G77 countries in successfully pushing for the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund at the COP27 held in Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2022” FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.

“We also co-hosted the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan with the United Nations earlier this year. We are thankful to Japan for joining the Conference and for committing $77 million in assistance for post-flood reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pakistan” he said.

“As a result of these efforts, Pakistan finds itself playing an important role in shaping the global discourse on Climate Change. Pakistan hopes that Japan would join efforts for getting the international financial institutions to play their role in helping disaster-prone countries build out their climate resilience. We also hope that Japan would urge the developed economies to fulfill their responsibilities towards developing countries that have a negligible carbon footprint but suffer disproportionately from the effects of Climate Change” he said.

“Finally, Pakistan suffers from periodic floods – a problem made worse by accelerated Climate Change. Pakistan is also one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Several fault lines meet in Pakistan, making us particularly susceptible to earthquakes. Japan, of course, is renowned for its early warning systems and disaster risk reduction efforts. It is another area where Pakistan hopes to learn from Japan’s experience and expertise” he said.

“Like other Asian countries, Pakistan wants to benefit from the Technical Intern Training Programme (TTP) and the Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) programme of Japan. The export of skilled labour from Pakistan to Japan has the potential to contribute significantly to Japan’s progress and development. Pakistan has a large pool of highly skilled professionals, particularly in the fields of information technology, engineering, healthcare, and hospitality. By opening avenues for skilled Pakistani workers, Japan can tap into this talent pool and address its labour shortages in key sectors” he said.

“In conclusion, the economic complementarities between Pakistan and Japan are vast and multifaceted. By capitalizing on each other’s strengths, we can create a win-win situation, resulting in shared prosperity and growth. There is immense potential for collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, and services. Let us seize this opportunity to build stronger ties, promote bilateral cooperation, and forge a brighter future for our countries, the region and the generations to come”

FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.