RABAT, May 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday urged the international community to evolve consensus on policies to deal with shared concerns of terrorism, nuclear proliferation, poverty, energy security and environment.
He said Pakistan had positioned itself to play a constructive and collaborative role to promote international peace and security while safeguarding and promoting its own national interests.
Addressing Moroccan officials and academics here on “Pakistan’s Role in The New International Order” at the Foreign Office, Mr Aziz stressed the need for reciprocity in international politics.
“Pakistan remains ready to do its part for a better, more secure and more prosperous world,” and added: “Our interlocutors must be ready to do their part.”
The prime minister said the developing countries were seeking a more level playing field in the realm of global commerce to benefit from open markets.
Speaking about Pakistan’s perspective on important international issues, he said a key objective of our external policy was to reduce tensions with India arising from the lingering dispute over Kashmir. He said Pakistan was now engaged in a composite dialogue process covering all outstanding issues.
He said while some progress had been achieved through confidence building measures, “we need to move from dispute management to dispute resolution”.
Pakistan was committed to a just and durable settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people. “We have offered innovative ideas to encourage progress towards a settlement. Resolution of the Kashmir issue will allow both countries to divert their resources towards development purposes which would benefit the people of both countries,” he said.
The prime minister said peace and stability in the long troubled country of neighbouring Afghanistan was in the strategic interest of Pakistan. “We have facilitated the electoral process in Afghanistan, extended financial and material assistance for reconstruction and provided unlimited trade access to this country.”
He said Pakistani security forces have achieved major successes in securing the Pakistan-Afghan border from terrorist and extremist elements.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, he said Pakistan had taken a clear position of principle.
“We believe that Iran has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under appropriate international safeguards. Pakistan is opposed to nuclear proliferation by any country,” he added.—APP
