Islamabad:
Darrier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar described the details of his recent foreign visits on Friday and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen international partnerships.
Addressing the press, Dar said that he had held an important meeting with the American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and discussed key global issues, including the Pakistani-Indian conflict and the growing tension between Iran and Israel.
He called his diplomatic missions, which began in July this year, a great success and underlined the positive results of meetings with international partners.
He also approached a misunderstanding arising from his participation in a session in the American reflection group, the Atlantic. Clarifying the controversy, Dar explained that during the segment of questions and answers, he was asked about the May 9 tests. In response, he said, Pakistan has an independent judicial power and such questions rest with the courts, not with the government.
DAR has highlighted a series of other diplomatic efforts to improve the global position of Pakistan. He also detailed his trip to the United Kingdom, where he had talks with Vice-Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Among the main results, DAR announced the lifting of the United Kingdom’s ban on Pakistani International Airlines (PIA), with flights that should resume in September. He also revealed that the Pakistani High Commissioner Passport Treatment System in London had been rationalized in a single window operation.
DAR also discussed regional connectivity initiatives, including its recent commitment to Kabul. He spoke of the proposed railway line connecting Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, recognizing concerns about funding, but ensuring that China has promised support.
Read: DAR HAils UAP Rail contract as a milestone in regional connectivity
Referring to the participation in the signature ceremony of the framework agreement on the joint feasibility study of the Naibabad rail link – Kharlachi under the corridor of the Uzbek railroads – Afghan – with a new Peshawar highway in Kabul, will be integrated in CPEC 2.0, which is currently projected for Afgul.
Find out more: Pakistan, China, Afghanistan forges a deeper alliance with the extension of the CPEC
Turning to China, Dar described the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister of Wang Yi as an important step, reiterating “the friendship dressed in iron” between the two countries. Both sides have officially launched CPEC 2.0Commit to extend cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnership any time.
DAR announced its intention to establish economic corridors in Karachi for Chinese companies and underlined continuous collaboration in Gwadar.
