ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday emphasised a “productive and constructive partnership” with the European Union and said the government would not be held hostage by any radical group in its external ties.

Virtually addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Mr Qureshi underscored the enormous potential of the bilateral relationship and expressed Pakistan’s readiness to continue to work for mutually beneficial ties.

He noted that Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) had provided a solid foundation and framework for multidimensional cooperation between the two sides. He specifically referred to the EU’s GSP Plus facility to Pakistan that helped bilateral trade to grow.

EU imports from Pakistan have registered a rapid growth since the award of GSP Plus in 2014. Pakistan’s exports to EU members are currently valued at €5537 million.

FM seeks productive, constructive partnership

The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment towards effective implementation of 27 GSP Plus-related international conventions including those pertaining to human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance.

According to Dawn.com, Mr Qureshi said: “We have firmly moved against radical groups after the recent protests. I can assure you that no armed or pressure group is being allowed to challenge the writ of the state and dictate government policy.”

His reported comments were in the context of last month’s deadly anti-France protests in the country over Macron government’s tolerance for the display of blasphemous caricatures as an issue of freedom of speech; and the subsequent deal between the protesters and the government that led to tabling of a resolution in the National Assembly by a ruling party legislator that called for a debate on the expulsion of French envoy.

Mr Qureshi at the same time expressed “disappointment” at the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament on blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

He called for understanding the special feelings and reverence Muslims have for the personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and emphasized that freedom of expression could not be used to hurt religious feelings of others and willful provocation and incitement to hatred and violence must be universally outlawed.

He proposed cooperation between Pakistan and EU for promoting peaceful coexistence, and interfaith and cultural harmony.

Also, the foreign minister touched upon the developments in Afghanistan, ties with India, and Delhi’s repressive actions in Occupied Kashmir.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained the single biggest obstacle in the way of building durable and lasting peace in South Asia.

He also referred to India’s disinformation campaign against Pakistan, which was unveiled by the EU Disinfolab and urged the EU not to allow the names of its institutions to be misused by third countries.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2021