Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the UK & was committed to elevating it to newer levels: Sohail Mahmood
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (SABAH): Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received James Heappey, Minister for Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, at the Foreign Office on Tuesday.
The talks covered bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.
The Foreign Secretary stated that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the UK and was committed to elevating it to newer levels.
Stressing the historic and long-standing nature of Pakistan-UK partnership, the Foreign Secretary reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen cooperation across myriad dimensions — including trade, investment, security, defence, culture and people-to-people linkages. The Foreign Secretary especially highlighted the role of Pakistani diaspora in UK and its valuable contribution to the further advancement of bilateral relations.
The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to playing a positive role in promoting regional peace and security. He emphasized the need for the international community to play its role in addressing the dire humanitarian situation.
In the context of South Asia, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood stressed the importance of strategic stability and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Minister Heappey reaffirmed the importance of UK-Pakistan partnership and UK’s desire to expand bilateral cooperation. He appreciated Pakistan’s cooperation with the international community, and UK in particular, following the August 2021 developments in Afghanistan. He thanked Pakistan for its facilitation on evacuations from Afghanistan.
The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, especially in this 75th anniversary year of Pakistan-UK diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received Dr. Jasper Wieck, Germany’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, at the Foreign Office on Tuesday. They exchanged views on bilateral relations and the situation in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Secretary welcomed Dr. Wieck to Pakistan and recalled the positive outcomes of their last meeting in March 2022. He said Pakistan deeply valued its long-standing relations with Germany, both bilaterally and in the context of the European Union. He added that Pakistan was committed to comprehensively expanding bilateral cooperation across all areas, especially trade, investment, security, and people-to-people exchanges. The Foreign Secretary also stressed the importance of regular high-level exchanges and highlighted the various events organized to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The Foreign Secretary emphasized the need for a common regional approach towards Afghanistan in order to advance shared objectives and highlighted Pakistan’s contributions in this regard. He hoped that the international community would assist the Afghan people in averting the humanitarian crisis.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood highlighted the key elements of Pakistan’s principled position on the conflict in Ukraine and reiterated its support for a peaceful and diplomatic solution as soon as possible.
The Foreign Secretary also briefed the Special Representative on the serious situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He underscored the importance of peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for durable peace and stability in South Asia.
Special Representative underlined the importance Germany attached to its relations with Pakistan and its desire to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.
Thanking Pakistan for its facilitation in evacuating Afghans, foreign diplomats, and international aid workers from Afghanistan, Special Representative Wieck reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to work together for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.