NEW YORK – Building a peaceful neighbourhood is Pakistan’s foreign policypriority which requires normalisation of relations with India on a durablebasis, Islamabad’s envoy to the UN has said.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN,Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told a visiting delegation of the US War Collegethat on the foreign policy front, Pakistan’s external engagements andstrategy emerge from its key national priorities.
She said the defeat of terrorism and militancy as well as the creation ofconditions in which violent extremism cannot survive was foremost toestablish durable stability.
The release quoted her as saying that among the other important foreignpolicy priorities was to build a peaceful neighbourhood.
This required the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan and”normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, predicated onthe peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes”, she said Another keypriority was to promote regional economic integration and connectivity.
“These priorities frame what we do on the international front, guide ourmultiple foreign relationships and of course our engagement at the UN,” shesaid.
On the security front, she said Pakistan has sought to “eliminate allterrorist groups” through a comprehensive strategy, involving forceful lawenforcement actions and targeted military operations as well as actions tocounter “violent extremism and its toxic narrative.”