Secretary-general SAARC to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow

Secretary-General South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC ) Esala Ruwan Weerakoon will be arriving in Islamabad tomorrow on a four-day tour from December 22 to 25. 

This will be the secretary general’s maiden visit to Pakistan since assuming office in March 2020.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), during his visit, Weerakoon will call on Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi besides meetings with other high officials.

"The visit is an opportunity to reiterate Pakistan's commitment to the objectives and principles of SAARC, share our perspective on various aspects of cooperation with SAARC, and highlight Pakistan's efforts for promotion of peace, security and development in the region," MoFA added.

Read: Proposed SAARC meeting cancelled after Pakistan objects

The MoFA further mentioned that as a founding member of SAARC, Pakistan is fully resolved to advancing the objectives of the organisation as enshrined in its charter, and has always played an active role in the SAARC processes and activities.

"Pakistan has contributed significantly to the realisation of SAARC objectives of cooperation, mutual trust, economic integration and social and cultural development in the region," the communique added.

The secretary-general's visit comes almost four months after a proposed SAARC meeting was canceled after Pakistan’s objections that the annual gathering in New York would be “inappropriate” due to India’s ongoing atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as well as the question of legal representation of Afghanistan, according to diplomatic sources here.

The SAARC Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, scheduled for September 25, was proposed by Nepal reportedly at India’s behest.