*ISLAMABAD: Canadian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ian Shugart onThursday called Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and appreciated Pakistan’sgestures to de-escalate the regional situation.*
The Foreign Office said the foreign secretary held an hour long telephonicconversation with her Canadian counterpart. They exchanged views on keyissues in bilateral relations and the regional situation.
Tehmina Janjua was scheduled to travel to Ottawa for the next round ofPak-Canada Bilateral Political Consultations on March 7 but the visit waspostponed because of the prevailing security situation.
The two sides took stock of the key areas of bilateral interest includingenhancing political engagement, exploring avenues of economic cooperation,bilateral trade and consular matters.
The foreign secretary informed Shugart on the government’s priority tofacilitate foreign investors and invited Canadian businesses to explore thehuge potential of the Pakistani market. Challenges to Pakistani nationalsfor obtaining Canadian visas were also discussed, said the FO.
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Janjua availed the opportunity to brief her Canadian counterpart on theongoing situation between Pakistan and India. She underscored Pakistan’scommitment to peace and stability in the region and highlighted therepeated overtures by Prime Minister Imran Khan to de-escalate tensionsacross the Line of Control (LoC).
“Return of the Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan with honour to theIndian side within two days of his captivity on the Pakistani soil was areflection of Pakistan’s resolve to lower the tension in the region,” sheremarked.
Ian Shugart expressed satisfaction at the historically cooperative tieswith Pakistan and agreed to greater high level exchanges to give furtherimpetus to the relationship.
