A successful year for Pakistani diplomacy: FO Spokesperson

ISLAMABAD (By Rizwan Abbasi): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that this year has been remarkably successful for Pakistan in terms of international relations and diplomacy.

Addressing the final weekly media briefing of 2024, Baloch stated that the government strengthened ties with neighboring countries and adopted an effective policy on global issues.

Highlighting various regional and global matters, Baloch noted that Pakistan aligned its foreign policy with global developments, achieving significant milestones.

The spokesperson shared that high-level visits were undertaken to Belgium, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Iran. “The Foreign Minister successfully visited Iran, The Gambia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, while senior ministers from Iran, China, Qatar, and India, among others, visited Pakistan,” she said.

The FO spox further stated that important regional developments were observed in Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia this year. Pakistan adopted a proactive policy to enhance relations with key partners. She emphasized that 2024 was particularly significant for relations with China.

“In October, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Pakistan, with a special focus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” Baloch added.

Furthermore, in the press briefing, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch highlighted that the Prime Minister made four important visits to Saudi Arabia, which resulted in positive progress in the areas of investment and trade. “Despite tensions with Iran earlier this year, swift diplomacy helped improve relations. The late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also visited Pakistan, where important agreements were reached.”

The spokesperson noted Pakistan’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Summit and successful hosting of the SCO Heads of Government Council meeting. She added that organizations like the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and SCO played a vital role in Pakistan this year.

Baloch highlighted progress in Pakistan’s relations with the European Union, including collaboration on labor migration and the Green Partnership. She also mentioned agreements in the education and health sectors with Belarus, Norway, Russia, and the UK. The EU’s decision to lift a four-year ban on PIA was described as a significant achievement.

On Kashmir, Baloch condemned Indian atrocities in the occupied territory and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. She mentioned that three important meetings of the OIC Contact Group in Kashmir were held this year. She also emphasized Pakistan’s preference for dialogue in its relations with Afghanistan, stating that despite cross-border terrorism, engagement with Kabul continued.

The spokesperson underlined Pakistan’s contributions to global peace and security, highlighting the Prime Minister’s address at the UN General Assembly. Pakistan also raised its voice in favor of Palestine at the United Nations and the OIC. Becoming the chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Disarmament Committee was also hailed as a major accomplishment.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated that Pakistan seeks equal and non-interfering relations with the United States.

Counter-terrorism operations, she said, were carried out with thorough planning and intelligence-based strategies. She stressed that the protection of citizens remains the government’s top priority, adding that Pakistan continues to take its cooperation with friendly nations to new heights through its robust foreign policy.