LONDON: The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, recently met with a group of cross-party British parliamentarians of Pakistani origin at the Pakistan House in London. The meeting included prominent figures such as Lord Zameer Choudrey, Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Shaista Sheehan, and Lord Shaffaq Mohammed, along with Members of Parliament Mohammad Yasin, Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan, Zubir Ahmed, and Adnan Hussain.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the significant role played by the British parliamentarians in enhancing Pakistan-UK relations and their consistent support for a fair resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. The British lawmakers commended Pakistan’s leadership and mediation efforts in the Middle East, highlighting the international recognition of Pakistan’s contributions, which have instilled a sense of pride among overseas Pakistanis.
The discussions also touched upon Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East. Senator Dar emphasized the importance of adhering to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding for achieving long-term peace and stability in the region. He also pointed out the significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in reinforcing regional stability, clarifying that the agreement is defensive.
In response to recent developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the British parliamentarians congratulated Senator Dar on the PML-N’s success in the legislative assembly elections. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the PML-N’s past achievements in economic growth and development had earned the trust of the people. He mentioned that the new government would focus on infrastructure investment and job creation for the youth, with plans to collaborate with various political entities to address governance and constitutional matters.
The meeting concluded with the British parliamentarians expressing their continued commitment to strengthening Pakistan-UK relations and discussing other topics of mutual interest.