Italian Foreign Minister delivers lecture in NUST over Pak-Italy relations
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ISLAMABAD: (APP): Foreign Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni Wednesday said that his government acknowledged the unprecedented sacrifices of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.
He said that terrorism had assumed threatening proportions for the whole world which required collective efforts through long term strategy.
Delivering his lecture on the topic of future of Pak- Italian relations organized here by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Global Think-Tank Network, he underlined the need for global social, political and cultural solidarity and harmony to tackle the issues of terrorism and extremism.
Deliberating over the complexities of the issues of terrorism and extremism, he said the threat had stalked over the vast strip of land stretching from Iraq and Syria in the form of terrorist group Daesh, an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (IS).
"In the face of such complex issues, Pakistan and Italy had been called for contributing in the world peace and stability," he added.
Paolo said the international community should promote solidarity in their ranks without succumbing to the false rhetoric of clash of civilizations.
About terrorist incidents in Europe, he referred to Brussels attacks and said the European countries were facing external and internal threats.
He said that the complexity of the issues required long term approach through cultivation of inter-faith harmony.
It must be a battle of social, political and cultural cooperation among the world community, he opined.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security Lt. Gen (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua, former governor Balochistan Awais Ghani, former foreign secretary Shahid Khokhar, diplomats and a large number of experts and students attended the session.
The Italian Foreign Minister further referred to significance of Pakistan by saying that it had the role of being 'gate keeper' in the South Asia whereas Italy situated on the Mediterranean, could serve as bridge to promote dialogue among various civilizations.
He also underlined the need to protect minorities' rights and religious freedom throughout the world.
He cited an excerpt from a speech of Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah's address during 1947 in which he pleaded religious freedom for everyone.
Paolo said that Pakistan and Italy had been contributing for the world peace through their largest contributions in the United Nations peace keeping missions in various parts of the world.
About the bilateral ties between Italy and Pakistan, the visiting Italian Foreign Minister said that both countries enjoyed excellent relations.
