Pakistan wants peace with neighbours: PM  

Reiterates desire for peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India


AAMIR ILAYS RANA July 06, 2017

DUSHANBE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that India has escalated tension along the Line of Control with its forces repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement.

“Pakistan desires peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute with India,” he reiterated, adding that Islamabad desired to maintain good relations with all its neighbours.

The prime minister is on an official two-day visit to Dushanbe at the invitation of the Tajik president. The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir and chairman of the National Highway Authority, among other officials.

The prime minister in his statement to the press at the conclusion of  his one-on-one and delegation-level talks with President Emomali Rahmon, said he was impressed by the "remarkable political stability, social cohesion and impressive economic progress" of Tajikistan.

He said the two sides discussed the importance of road, rail and air connectivity and said it was vital for regional integration, promotion of bilateral trade, tourism, people-to-people contacts.

"We have therefore resolved to multiply our efforts to increase connectivity between our two countries," he said.

Pakistan wants good relations with all its neighbours, PM tells Tajik president

Nawaz said his visit had provided an opportunity to translate their close political ties into strategic cooperation in all spheres particularly economy, trade, investment energy and defence.

During the talks, the two sides also agreed to continue cooperation in international fora including the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Organisation.

Vowing joint steps against terrorism, the two sides agreed on holding Pakistan Tajikistan Joint Working Group’s first meeting on countering international terrorism.

The premier said the two sides also identified the need for increased cooperation in agriculture, industry, education and culture. He said Pakistan views with admiration the laudable socio-economic development and progress achieved under President Rahmon's leadership.

The premier added that the CASA-1000 [electricity transmission] project is a milestone in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan, saying he hopes to enhance relations with the Central Asian state in a number of other fields.

The prime minister was accorded a guard of honour at a formal welcome ceremony at the palace of President Rahmon following his arrival at the airport, where he was received by Tajikistan Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda.

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A press release issued by the premier's media wing earlier said that the visit to Tajikistan is reflective of the premier's vision to strengthen Pakistan's relations with neighbouring and regional countries and further increase regional connectivity.

At Dushanbe, the leaders of the two countries will discuss bilateral relations, economic cooperation, including trade and investment, energy cooperation and regional connectivity.

They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, with particular attention to Pakistan's policy of a peaceful neighbourhood.

President Emomali Rahmon later hosted a dinner in honour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his entourage.

Casa summit

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also attend summit on Casa-1000 MW power import project scheduled on Thursday (today), aimed at ensuring timely implementation and sustainable functioning of the CASA-1000 MW Project which will connect central Asia with Pakistan.

The heads of delegations will recommend supporting initiatives of all stakeholders of the project, which are aimed at ensuring timely implementation and sustainable functioning of the CASA-1000 Project.

President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Gani and Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic  Sooronbay Jeenbekov will also attend the summit.

The Heads of delegations of the participating countries will exchange their views on the implementation of the regional project CASA-1000 and discuss prospects and measures for improving coordination and interactions aimed at the soonest completion of tender phase and an early start of the construction of the CASA-1000 components.

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They positively assessed the work, which had been done since the official launch of the project in May 2016, and will further stress the need for timely completion of the CASA-1000 Project, optimization of mutually beneficial and close cooperation in energy sphere and continuation of coordination among the participating countries.

The heads of delegations will call on all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the CASA-1000 to maintain their firm commitments to support the implementation of the project and take all necessary steps and measures for rapid completion of tender process and an early start of the construction of the CASA-1000 components.

They will also stress on improving tender process in order to accelerate consideration/granting of the contracts and improve management mechanism of the project through improving functioning of the Secretariat, organisation of meetings of the Inter-Governmental Council no less than two times in a year and enhancing involvement of the participating countries in planning process.

They will also recommend supporting initiatives of all stakeholders of the project, which are aimed at ensuring timely implementation and sustainable functioning of the CASA-1000 Project.  

(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM ZAFAR BHUTTA IN ISLAMABAD)

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