Pakistan: Anchor of peace and stability
- Champion of Afghan Peace Process: brokering peace for a prosperous and inclusive future for the region. To this end: - Facilitating US Taliban Peace Agreement in Feb 2020 - Commencement of Intra Afghan Negotiations in Sep 2020 - Agreement on rules and procedures between Afghan parties in Doha, Dec 2020 - Maiden visit by the Prime Minister to Afghanistan laying down the foundation of a ‘shared vision’ for a comprehensive bilateral partnership. - Pushing new boundaries for economic diplomacy - Under the Engage Africa policy, held the first ever Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference in Nairobi - Foreign Minister agenda setting with each of Pakistan’s missions abroad for a greater economic diplomacy footprint - Foreign Minister agenda setting with business institutions to forge closer Public – Private ties for greater economic diplomacy impact (Karachi visit to PBC/FPCCI/IBA) - Prime Minister Imran Khan attending the World Economic Forum [WEF] in Davos and subsequent virtual Country Strategy Dialogue, setting Pakistan’s agenda for economic stability and prosperity.
Tabling progressive resolutions for a better world:
UNGA unanimously adopted Pakistan sponsored resolution on self-determination, reaffirming the right to self-determination for peoples subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation.
UNGA adopted Pakistan co-sponsored resolution calling for respecting sacred religious symbols and promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue
The world recogises Peaceful Pakistan
UN, US, UK, Canada, Japan and France all positively revised travel advisories on Pakistan
Exposing India state sponsored terrorism and disinformation agenda
Pakistan: Global Agenda Shaper
- Ensuring the Kashmir dispute is on the agenda of every regional, multilateral and bilateral forum and engagement. - Countering Islamophobia: Tabling International day for Islamophobia March 15 / bringing it up at every forum - Standing up for the inalienable right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir and Palestine and principled refusal to recognize Israel. - All of the above encapsulated in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to UNGA 75. - Pakistan unanimously elected President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the third principal organ of the UN, along with the General Assembly and Security Council. - Pakistan re-elected to United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) securing the highest number of votes among the five candidates from the Asia-Pacific region. - As a manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment to the OIC and commitment to brokering peaceful dialogue, Pakistan selected as host for 48th Session of the CFM in 2021. - Launch of FM Connect with Global Thoughts Leaders, connecting the Foreign Minister with stakeholders across the globe for greater reach and influence - Welcoming UNGA President Volkan Bozkir to Pakistan, affirmation of Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism. - Pakistan was a key destination for foreign dignitaries, despite COVID19: this included visits from: - President of Turkey - Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi - Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina - Secretary General of the UN - Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan - Speaker of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga - Chinese State Councilor & Minister of Defence - President of Inter Parliamentary Union - Foreign Minister of Iran
Foreign Minister Qureshi maintained a robust digital and traditional diplomacy agenda, visiting:
- Iran - KSA - US - Qatar - UAE - Niger - Moscow
ü Further, The President of Pakistan and the FM among first foreign dignitaries to visit China on improvement of COVID situation in a show of support and belief, thereby strengthening and reinforcing deep rooted all weather strategic cooperative partnership
ü Visits to Malaysia and Qatar by the Prime Minister to strengthen fraternal ties.
ü And among many digital sessions, attended the 5th round of EU-Pakistan Startegic Dialogue and dialogue with the Turkish and Finnish FM’s on the TRT World forum.
Pakistan: Moving in to a new era of Public & Digital Diplomacy: VISION FO
- Moving Pakistan into a new era of digital connectivity, joining the pioneering Digital Cooperation Organisation for multilateral digital diplomacy, as a founder member. - Establishing bilateral Public Diplomacy Exchange with like minded countries. The first such relationship was initiated by Pakistan with Turkey. - Established a dedicated Public Diplomacy Consultative Group of former ambassadors and industry stalwarts for focussed attention to public policy. Also appointing an Advisor to the Foreign Minister dedicated to Public Diplomacy. - Established a dedicated group for Digital Diplomacy comprising Pakistan’s top digital stakeholders. - Creating digital reform within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a new agenda for digital diplomacy through missions and ambassadors and launching a state of the art, digitally enabled media briefing room. - Creation of an app connecting the Foreign Minister with all officers of the foreign office headquarters and across 117 missions for instant communication, breaking fresh ground in transparent and efficient communication during a time of need. (covid19)
Pakistan: Humanity First
v Pakistan’s missions across the globe played a groundbreaking role in the largest repatriation operation in the history of the country, bringing home over 220’000 stranded Pakistani’s across 70 countries: stranded as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, Missions housed, fed and looked after stranded Pakistani’s while securing them a safe passage home.
v The Foreign Office established a dedicated 24/7 Crisis Management Unit specifically for the purpose of repatriating stranded Pakistani’s.
v Pakistan spearheaded an initiative for global debt relief for developing economies in Covid hit nations, resulting in relief from the IMF, G-20 and World Bank.
v Pakistan has offered to share Covid19 best practices at every multilateral forum: from the SCO to SAARC to OIC.
Pakistan undertook a series of humanitarian missions across the world for COVID19 and beyond: to this end, Pakistan sent medical aid to the U.S and Syria. Pakistan also sent relief to Niger for flood affectees and to Lebanon for victims of the blast.
Under thought leadership platform VISION F.O, launching the ‘Foreign Minister’s Honours List’, celebrating those diaspora community members who brought positive and progressive impact to the countries in which they live and work. This August 2020, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi honoured specifically those diaspora members who demonstrated exceptional contribution to their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pakistan’s UN peacekeepers continue to serve as bastions of humanity across the globe
Pakistan, in collaboration with the UNHCR organised an International Conference to mark ’40 Years of Afghan Refugees’ Presence in Pakistan.
Pakistan is currently engaged in dialogue with multiple sources for the timely procurement of the most effective and affordable COVID19 vaccine.
Pakistan has continuously put the human rights of the people of Kashmir as top priority at every international forum, raising the issue at UB, HRC, OIC, IPU among many other significant platforms. To this end:
Owing to Pakistan’s efforts, the UNSC has discussed the J&K dispute 3 times since 05 August 2019 after a gap of 55 years!
On Pakistan’s call 3 meetings of the OIC Contact group on J&K were held since Aug 2019.
Niamey Declaration explicitly reiterated OIC’s principled stance on J&K dispute
Unanimous global condemnation nation of human rights violations in IIOJK by human rights groups and world leaders
A 12 member cross parliamentary delegation from the UK visited Pakistan and AJK
Foreign Affairs committee of US Congress expressed concern over IIOJK in a letter to the Indian FM
Portuguese Parliament tables resolution on humanitarian crisis in IIOJK