Aziz rules out Pakistan’s foreign policy failure claims

Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs addresses the National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz refuted on Tuesday claims that Pakistan's foreign policy has failed and the country was becoming isolated.

“Pakistan is a confident and strong state as compared to other Muslims states due to its active foreign policy,” Sartaj Aziz said while addressing in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Aziz said Pakistan pursues a balanced policy of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries, and protection of its own national interests.



He added, "Pakistan is pursuing a reasonable foreign policy, with only Rs15 billion expenditures in year 2016-17 against India’s Rs115 billion."

On the crucial matter of admission of India into the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), Aziz said Pakistan had been making successful efforts to stop India from getting entry into the group.

He stressed that Pakistan's relations with Iran were heading in the right direction while "we are strictly following the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan".

Aziz said the government was trying hard to maintain peace in Afghanistan and work for boarder management to "check infiltration of terrorists".