PM Shehbaz reaffirms Pakistan’s firm commitment to global & regional peace & sustainable development

ASTANA, Oct 13 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addressed the 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) being held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 12-13 October 2022. In his speech, the Prime Minister gave Pakistan’s perspective on a range of important issues at regional and international level especially the challenges arising from climate change.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to global and regional peace and sustainable development and underlined the prioritization of the goal of socio-economic welfare of the people of Pakistan, including through partnerships at the regional and sub-regional level and promotion of cordial relations with all states on the basis of sovereign equality. He also highlighted Pakistan’s role for the promotion of peace and security and sustainable development in the region especially in Afghanistan. He also underscored Pakistan’s role in strengthening connectivity in Asia through various initiatives, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, and all subsequent steps to undermine the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, including illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory, have vitiated the environment and eroded the space for dialogue. He also underlined that resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, is essential for durable peace between Pakistan and India.

CICA is an intergovernmental initiative aimed at promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. With 27 member states, CICA is a forum for interaction and collaboration among countries across Asia. Pakistan is one of CICA’s founding members and has been actively participating in its work.