Islamabad: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed his desire to further promote bilateral economic cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia in various fields.
While giving an interview, the Foreign Minister said that there is a wide scope for cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia.
He said that they have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a joint ministerial commission between the two countries.
Bilawal said that the first and second major Muslim countries have a great scope to work together on any issue.
“I believe the sky is the limit and a lot can change,” he said, adding that he was keen to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister observed that the two countries are already cooperating at multilateral forums including OIC, ASEAN, United Nations, G77 and other international organizations.
In response to a question, the foreign minister said that Pakistan has gained experience in dealing with terrorism and both countries can learn from each other’s experiences.
He further said that root causes of hatred, division, extremism and terrorism which also give birth to Islamophobia at the international level are other issues that Indonesia and Pakistan should work on together.
On a question about Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar had recently visited Afghanistan with a delegation.
He has had ‘productive and meaningful engagements’ with Afghan Interim Government officials on a range of issues and the most pressing issue of terrorism.
The foreign minister reiterated that they all want to see a peaceful, prosperous and developed Afghanistan.
“No one wants Afghanistan to become a stronghold or launching pad for terrorist attacks in the region or elsewhere. We hope that the one-year Afghan interim government will not only address the issue of terrorism but also provide security as it is the basic condition for peace and prosperity.
He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbors and will remain neighbors.
Bilawal said that it is in the interest of Pakistan that there should be peace in Afghanistan. When there will be a stable country; A prosperous country, they would not have to worry about mass exodus of refugees, terrorism and associated threats.
He further said that this will create economic opportunities for the people of Pakistan as well as Afghans.
The foreign minister stressed that the world should have a meaningful dialogue with the Afghan people as they are all tired of wars and conflicts as Afghan generations have been going through these conflicts one after the other.
He expressed the hope that there will be a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, Afghanistan needs international cooperation and involvement because the destiny and future of the country is in the hands of the people of Afghanistan.
In response to another question, the Foreign Minister said that he is very confident that the people of Pakistan will overcome the political and economic challenges and strengthen the democratic system.
He said that Pakistan is committed to women’s empowerment and educational opportunities and will continue to advocate for such causes at the international level. He further said that Pakistan was the first Muslim country where a woman served as Prime Minister.
