Pakistan needs to set its focus on bolstering diplomatic, economic and cultural ties with North African states as historic ties with them remain short of achieving their true potential so far.
This was shared in a session titled 'Pakistan's relations with North African countries' organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), which was addressed as keynote speaker by Pakistan's former envoy to Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, Ambassador (retd) Mushtaq Ali Shah.
Speaking about the history of Pakistan-Egypt ties, he recalled that Allama Iqbal had visited Egypt in 1931 and King Farouk was so impressed by his philosophy and poetry that he ordered opening up of an Urdu department at Cairo University so that Iqbal’s work could be understood in the kingdom.
Urdu departments were later established in Jamia Al-Azhar and six other major universities, he added. Ali shared that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also visited Cairo in 1946 and held meetings not only with the King and government officials, but also with the Muslim Brotherhood leadership.
The former ambassador said that the recognition and appreciation of Pakistan's contributions in Task Force 151, anti-piracy actions and United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa resonates across the North African region yet their bilateral ties remain short of achieving the true potential.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2021.
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