Pakistan Emphasizes Commitment to Peaceful, Cooperative Relations with Neighboring Countries

Strategic Insights -

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, emphasized the country's commitment to maintaining peaceful, cooperative, and good neighborly relations with all countries, despite facing challenges and setbacks in certain instances. Speaking at the 51st Foundation Day of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Dar highlighted the importance of dialogue, the avoidance of bloc politics, and adherence to the UN Charter. He stressed Pakistan's focus on economic development and regional peace, particularly with Afghanistan and India, and advocated for stability in South Asia.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan remains committed to maintaining peaceful, cooperative, and good neighborly relations with all countries, despite facing challenges and setbacks.
  • The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of dialogue, the avoidance of bloc politics, and adherence to the UN Charter.
  • Pakistan's focus is on economic development and regional peace, particularly with Afghanistan and India, and stability in South Asia.
  • Pakistan seeks good relations with India based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
  • Pakistan has cooperated with Afghanistan to avert a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
  • Pakistan intends to leverage its strategic location to build development partnerships with key global actors through its 'pivot to geo-economics' approach.
  • Pakistan's upcoming UN Security Council membership for 2025-26 underscores its commitment to international peace and security.
  • Pakistan emphasizes the importance of communication, dialogue, and negotiations to mitigate risks and advocate for a collaborative approach that respects all nations' interests and aspirations.

Statistics:

  • Pakistan's Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized 130 events and published over 150 issued briefs during July 2023 to June 2024.
  • Pakistan seeks to deepen its strategic partnership with China through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is pursuing its upgraded version focusing on industrialization, digitalization, green initiatives, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.
  • Pakistan aims for deeper partnerships with Iran, Gulf nations, Turkiye, Central Asian States, and Azerbaijan, prioritizing trade, investment, and regional connectivity through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Sources:

  • "Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's Speech at the 51st Foundation Day of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)," Sept 2023.
  • "Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) Annual Report 2023-2024," 2024.