Islamabad, December 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):The European Union has welcomed the progress made by Pakistan to implement the Financial Action Task Force Action Plans and also lauded adoption of the ‘Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill’ by the parliament, that later became an Act with presidential approval.
A joint communiqué issued on Wednesday at the conclusion of sixth round of the European Union-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue mentioned that the EU also welcomed the “ongoing efforts to address the remaining FATF actions”. The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell in Brussels on Tuesday.
The two sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and the EU based on the Strategic Engagement Plan. They agreed to further enhance EU-Pakistan mutual engagement, especially on security and regional cooperation. Both Sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the new EU-Pakistan Security Dialogue with sub-groups on Non-proliferation and Disarmament, and Counter-terrorism in 2022.
They reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen and protect human rights as well as fundamental freedoms, focusing on freedom of religion and belief, inter-faith harmony, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and rights of minorities. Both sides acknowledged Afghanistan’s serious liquidity challenges which strain the legitimate banking services. They also agreed on the need for continuing urgent and unhindered humanitarian assistance and basic social services support to the Afghan people.
Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s deep concerns about human rights violations by India in Jammu and Kashmir, and efforts to change the demography of the disputed territory in violation of UNSC resolutions. High Representative Borrell underscored that the EU is following the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir closely and restated the need for restraint, de-escalation of tensions and resolution of the dispute through dialogue and constructive political and diplomatic engagement.
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