KASUR, Jan 8: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has termed 2005 as the year of Pakistan foreign policies’ success. Besides Muslim world, Pakistan’s relations with China, USA, Russia, Southeast Asia, European Union and neighbouring countries have improved during last year, he added.

Briefing newsmen at the residence of District Naib Nazim Haji Maqsood Sabir Ansari here on Sunday, the minister said that following the Oct 8 earthquake the world nations pledged support of $6.4 billion at donors conference in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s recommendations of strengthening the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and elimination of sectarianism from the Muslim states were widely welcomed at the OIC moot at Makkah, he added.

Kasuri said that 22 agreements were inked during the Chinese premier’s visit to Pakistan last year, while Islamabad’s ties with Moscow are getting stronger because of well-conceived foreign policies of the government.

Pakistan’s trade with Afghanistan is also taking strides and today it stands at Rs1.2 billion as compared to Rs6 million six years ago, he maintained.

The minister said Pakistan wants peaceful solution to Iran issue and it should be given all rights provided under Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf had given viable recommendations on Kashmir, adding that self-governance and demilitarization of Kashmir would not only help resolve the core dispute but also restore peace in the region.

Kasuri made it clear that Pakistan wanted the Kashmir dispute to be resolved according to wishes of Kashmiris and it would not take any U-turn on the issue. —APP