ISLAMABAD, July 20: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked the Foreign Office to strive for a ‘peaceful neighbourhood’ by improving ties with neighbouring countries.

The prime minister gave the instructions on Saturday during his first visit to the Foreign Office since assuming the office last month.

Mr Sharif has kept the portfolio of foreign affairs ministry with himself.

According to FO spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry, the prime minister visited the FO for an “in-depth briefing on foreign policy”.

Soon after assuming office, the prime minister wrote letters to the country’s ambassadors, outlining his government’s foreign policy priorities.

In a poor reflection of its diplomacy, Pakistan finds itself in an uneasy neighbourhood and its relations with most of its neighbours range from distrust to acrimonious.

The prime minister stressed the need for a peaceful and stable neighbourhood and Pakistan’s positive contribution to the creation of such an environment, said a statement issued by the FO.

Mr Sharif’s emphasis on strengthening relations with neighbours has different connotations for different countries. In the case of China it implies deepening the ‘strategic partnership’.

With respect to India it reflects the PML-N government’s keenness to lower tensions and move ahead with trade. With Iran it wants to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

The dynamics of relations with Afghanistan are altogether different.

The prime minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security, Sartaj Aziz, is travelling to Kabul on Sunday to invite President Hamid Karzai for a visit to Islamabad.

His trip is meant to soothe tense relations with Afghan leaders, which have been impeding reconciliation efforts in that country.

The other relationship, which was intensely debated at the briefing, was with the US, particularly with reference to the core irritant of drone strikes, withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and the future of strategic partnership.

The prime minister reminded the Foreign Office bureaucracy about his focus on promoting trade and economic ties for meeting the needs of national development.

Mr Sharif said he wanted to see Pakistan’s image abroad improved because of its contribution in making the region peaceful and stable.

Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani briefed the prime minister about “current regional and international environment”.

He highlighted main aspects of major relationships and presented the FO’s institutional recommendations for the conduct of foreign policy.