Foreign policy: Pakistan made significant gains in 2015, says Aizaz

Foreign secretary says country’s counter-terror successes raised its profile abroad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan made significant foreign policy gains in 2015, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Friday.

"The year 2015, as it closes marks in my view a significant glossary of achievements for Pakistan foreign policy both at home and abroad," he said in an interview with PTV World News. He said Pakistan's successes in countering terrorism had raised the country's rating in all the capitals of the world.



“Pakistan's pursuit of principles-based foreign policy including in the Middle East is being recognised worldwide. People are beginning to see that here is a country which is emerging in many respects and is going to create its own mark," he added.

Chaudhry said the present government had set a very clear foreign policy agenda, with focus on three priorities: peaceful neighbourhood, principles of non-interference, trade and investment and enhanced connectivity for reaching out to Central Asia.

"We believe that we have come a long way in all of these. We have made significant gains as a country with the help of all institutions and all levels of leadership," he added.



Chaudhry said the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India will be meeting in mid-January to finalise the schedule for resumption of comprehensive bilateral dialogue.

About the situation in Middle East, he said Pakistan believes that non-intervention and non-interference should be respected by all. "We believe that peaceful and political process should be resorted to find solutions rather than use of force."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2016.