FM urges NAM to address challenges for peace, security

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) must resolve to address existing and emerging challenges for peace and security.
Speaking at a virtual ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on Friday, the foreign minister said that the forum should also look into root causes of conflicts, foreign occupation and military intervention and denial of fundamental rights including right to self-determination.
He stressed on strict adherence to principles and objectives of UN and NAM Charter including refraining from acts or threats of aggression; respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; and non-interference in internal affairs of others.
The minister said that Pakistan reiterates its concern at the continued denial of this cardinal right to people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, guaranteed to them in several UN Security Council resolutions.
The legitimate freedom struggle of people of Jammu and Kashmir is being brutally suppressed and the same is the case with Palestine. He urged NAM and the international community to strengthen calls for a just, peaceful and expeditious resolution of these conflicts, in accordance with the aspirations of the people. He said it is central to ensuring durable peace in South Asia and the Middle East.
He said a strong and coordinated response is needed to help developing countries recover effectively from the Covid-19 crisis and “build back better”.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that a stable economy is inevitable for strong foreign policy and for this purpose.
“Pakistan will have to enhance its trade and export volume with other countries”, he said while chairing the second high-level meeting on economic diplomacy here on Friday.
Qureshi said it is pleasing that Pakistan’s missions are exploring new avenues for the promotion of economic cooperation and bilateral trade. He said that economic diplomacy has been practically initiated to promote Pakistan’s economic and trade linkages at global level.
He said that it requires more hard work to cope with the global economic impacts of the COVID-19 and achieve economic stability.
The minister also expressed satisfaction over the efforts being made by the participants to achieve the targets set under the economic diplomacy initiative.
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said that Pakistan’s economy has stabilized and is on the path for sustained growth, over a longer trajectory. Addressing the inaugural session of the Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference in Nairobi, FM had Qureshi said that Pakistan has all the ingredients to become a twenty-first-century success, Radio Pakistan reported.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is committed to promoting strategic partnership with Malaysia in various fields of mutual interest including economy, trade, education, science and technology.
He was talking to his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin during a telephonic conversation on Friday.
The two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction over the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Malaysia and appreciated the exemplary bilateral cooperation during the Corona pandemic.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi thanked his Malaysian counterpart for taking special care of Pakistani community in Malaysia during the corona pandemic.
The foreign minister extended good wishes for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit to be held in Malaysia in December this year.
The two foreign ministers agreed to continue mutual consultations for the development of bilateral relations and ties. – TLTP