Islamabad, June 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan and Germany have expressed the resolve to further deepen their bilateral ties in diverse fields. The resolve was expressed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock while addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan always advocated for holding of dialogue and use of diplomacy as tools for pursuit of peace in the world. Referring to the Russian-Ukraine conflict, he said Pakistan had a firm position that it should not be dragged to any conflict. Pakistan is a small and developing country, but it always advocated that international laws should be adhered to. He reiterated that Pakistan called upon immediate cessation of hostilities and immediate initiation of peaceful dialogue.
He said considering the plight of people in Ukraine, Pakistan had dispatched four planeloads of humanitarian aid. The foreign minister said Pakistan wanted to engage with all its neighbours. Pakistan played an important role in establishing the diplomatic ties between China and US and it would continue to play a role of bridge.
The foreign minister warned that the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir had been fast deteriorating due to provocative steps of India that is trying to undermine the Muslim majority by marginalizing and turning it into minority through illegal steps. The foreign minister said the international community must immediately take notice of the increasing incidents of persecution of minorities and rising tide of Islamophobia in India.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari citing the recent provocative and sacrilegious statements by the BJP leaders, said that such outrageous and highly condemnable statements have hurt the sentiments of Muslims all over the world. He said it is a proof that India had turned into a fascist country and it is no longer a secular India, but dominated by Hindutva ideology.
The foreign minister said Pakistan wanted peace with India, but it required a rational approach from the other side and with such irrational steps by India, the space for peace is being squeezed. The foreign minister said that Pakistan and Germany enjoyed a close and long standing cordial cooperation based upon mutual respect and driven by bilateral ties and shared interests. He said both the countries were also close partners in the European Union context.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said German had been Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the EU context and its fifth world export destination. The foreign minister said Pakistan always emphasized upon and supported a peaceful and stable Afghanistan contributing to the regional progress and development and connectivity.
He stressed upon the international community to focus on the humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people who had been facing a financial crises. A UN report had indicated that about 97 per cent of Afghan population had been pushed below the poverty line and faced immediate danger of hunger and starvation.
The foreign minister, stressed that Afghan government must come up to the expectation of the international community with regard to upholding of the human and women’s rights and take effective steps against terrorism. He urged the international community to actively engage with the Afghan government to avoid humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, adding releasing of its foreign assets would help its sagging economy.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during her meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, they had discussed at length the issue of Afghanistan where the situation had forced millions to leave the country. Lauding Pakistan’s role for peace and stability in Afghanistan, she said Pakistan had shown ‘a big heart’ to provide shelter and support to Afghan refugees. The German foreign minister said it was an enormous task and reiterated her government’s solidarity and support to Pakistan.
For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk