Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed the need for evolving a collectiveregional approach to deal with the shared challenges including globalwarming, peace and trade.
Addressing the inaugural session of Islamabad Conclave 2021 in Islamabad onThursday, he said the major issues of the region, including Afghanistan andKashmir, can only be resolved through dialogue.
The Prime Minister urged the world leaders to play their role in avertingthe implending humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by releasing their frozenassets. Imran Khan said these assets are linked with saving the lives of 40million Afghan people, who have been suffering since so long.
Imran Khan said through the platform of OIC, in its forthcoming ForeignMinister’s meeting, we will try to play our role for saving Afghan peopleagainst any humanitarian crisis.
The Prime Minister said we tried our best to develop peace with India sincehe assumed the office in 2018 but unfortunately Modi-led Indian regime tookevery initiative as our weakness. He regretted that the Hindutva led BJPregime could become a threat for its own country as the specific ideologyhas excluded its major population and exclusion can only create radicalism.
The Prime Minister said under our geo-economics approach, Pakistan wants toenhance the connectivity for increasing trade with regional countries. Hesaid in this regard we are trying to take maximum benefit from CPEC. Healso stressed the world nations to not polarize them on the pattern of ColdWar. He said we also want to play role in reducing distances between Chinaand US.
Imran Khan said climate change is another challenge that requires acollective approach to be resolved on priority basis. He said to deal withit, we started Ten-Billion Tree Tsunami program that is being appreciatedat every world forum. He said it is unfortunate that the global leaders arenot focused over it as their personal interests clash with the desiredsteps.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshisaid we need to put human security at the center of national securitystrategies as a departure from security-centric polices to move the regiontowards development and prosperity.
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He said Pakistan has shifted its focus to geo-economics. He saidconnectivity is the new buzz word and it can provide us enormousopportunities for national and regional development.
The Foreign Minister said regional cooperation is a must for South Asia toprosper. He said SAARC needs to be revitalized by freeing it from narrowpolitical agendas.
He said Pakistan has decided not to be a part of any global or regionalconflict, and has chosen to be a partner only in peace and development. Hesaid our primary interest is in seeking a peaceful and stable internationalorder that takes everyone on board.
The Foreign Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is one of the oldest disputeson the United Nations agenda that still awaits resolution according to thewishes of the brave people of Kashmir.
He said the dispute can conflagrate into a nuclear flashpoint to thedetriment of regional and global security.
