Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Addresses in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Astana
Astana: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar today addressed the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting being held in Astana, Kazakhstan from 20-21 May 2024.
In his statement, the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s firm adherence to the SCO Charter, as well as the “Shanghai Spirit” that stands for mutual trust and respect for shared prosperity and development.
The Deputy Prime Minister explained Pakistan’s priorities as the current Chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) which include promoting connectivity, transport links, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, and enhanced practical cooperation among SCO member States.
He called for upholding international law and the UN Charter. He emphasized people’s right to self-determination and peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
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He warned against bloc-based or confrontational geo-politics and advocated for a multipolar world firmly grounded in multilateralism.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need for combating terrorism, menace through collective and cooperative approaches including by addressing its root causes. He urged rejection of myopic and self-serving interests to use the mantra of terrorism for political gains.
The Deputy Prime Minister strongly condemned the barbaric Israeli onslaught in Gaza, which had resulted in the killings of over 35,000 innocent civilians, mostly women and children. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm call for an unconditional and urgent ceasefire and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance. He also emphasized the need to realize the two-State solution for durable peace and stability.
Senator Ishaq Dar also spoke on the situation in Afghanistan. He called on the international community to meaningfully engage with the Interim Afghan Government (IAG) for the genuine economic and development needs of Afghanistan and urged the IAG to ensure that Afghan soil was not used for terrorism against any country.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that Pakistan’s geostrategic location offers an ideal trade and transit hub for the SCO region. He underlined the significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for regional connectivity and economic integration.
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