ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khurram Dastgir on Thursday claimed that theperception about the country facing diplomatic isolation “is false”.
He insisted that under the PML-N government, the country achieved‘measurable success’ and tackled challenges through recalibration of itsforeign policy.
Speaking at his last news briefing as foreign minister, Dastgir spoke at alength on a range of foreign policy challenges and the achievements of thePML-N government during its five years in office.
Dastgir, who was appointed as foreign minister just for few weeks afterKhawaja Asif was disqualified over hiding his foreign employment,highlighted strategic partnership with China and expansion of ties withRussia as one of the main highlights of the PML-N performance.
He said Pakistan signed the landmark China-Pakistan Economic Corridorproject that attracted investment of $46.6 billion and put Pakistansquarely at the centre of a blueprint for a more hopeful, prosperous andconnected future for the region and the world.
“For the first time in history, we also reinforced our relations withRussia and signed a defense agreement with it in 2014. Similarly aconcerted effort was made to strengthen relations with the central Asiannations,” he added.
He insisted that against the backdrop of those developments, talk ofPakistan being isolated on the diplomatic front was false.
He made it clear that Pakistan was not jumping from one bloc to another,insisting that the country was working on diversifying its foreign policyoptions.
On the US, the foreign minister insisted that relations between the twocountries might not be ideal at present but they were not at the lowest ebb.
The lowest point in Pak-US relationship was in 2011 when incidentsincluding the Abbottabad raid, Raymond Davis controversy and killing of 24Pakistani soldiers at Salala check post happened, he added.
He said the US did not change its old mindset and continued to accusePakistan of double game. “Since 2011, things have changed,” he said,adding, “Pakistan carries out successful military operations againstmilitants without any discrimination.”
“There is no organised terrorist infrastructure left in the country,” hecontinued.
*“With Indi*a, it is unfortunate that the Indian leadership, after theelection of Prime Minister Modi, has been emanating aggressive statementsand postures against Pakistan,” he said.
In response, Pakistan had reacted in a very measured and just manner to allsuch provocations “because we believe that regional connectivity andenhanced regional cooperation is the panacea for all ills facing ourregion”.
“Pakistan faces Indian aggressive posture along the LoC and the WorkingBoundary with equal and proportionate equanimity.”
“With a new government in Pakistan in less than three months, and one toform in India next year, we hope that a fresh vigour and mandate will bebrought to the relations between both countries,” the foreign minister said.
Dastgir said, “It is also success of our economic diplomacy that Pakistanachieved the status of GSP plus in 2014.”
“As a result of this facilitation, Pakistan’s exports to the EU witnessed asurge of 38 per cent.”
On the Kashmir dispute, the foreign minister said Pakistan firmly standswith their Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle for right to selfdetermination.
He said Pakistan has strongly highlighted the Kashmir dispute at the UNGeneral Assembly and other forums.
On Afghanistan, the outgoing foreign minister said, “The roadmap to peacethere lies in the peace process and Pakistan will continue to extend itssupport for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.”