Pakistan consistently advanced diplomatic objectives in 2021: FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said that Pakistan proactively and consistently advanced its diplomatic objectives on a range of diplomatic fronts, both bilaterally and multilaterally during the last year.

The foreign minister's remarks came while he was presenting the Year End Review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a news conference in Islamabad held earlier today.

"We have consolidated friendships and further strengthened bilateral relations with major powers and key partners across regions," FM Qureshi said.

He added that Pakistan successfully and effectively put forward its perspective and narrative on major foreign policy issues, including the Kashmir dispute and the situation in Afghanistan.

"Several important developments and initiatives, including Pakistan's role for peace in Afghanistan, shift from geopolitics to geo-economics, Vision Central Asia, Engage Africa, public diplomacy and digital diplomacy, have helped advance Pakistan's foreign policy priorities," Qureshi said terming the year 2021 significant.

The FM further added that during the last year, Pakistan had 85 bilateral exchanges with over 50 countries. There were 35 senior leadership visits to Pakistan, 32 senior leadership visits by the country, over 50 high-level multilateral engagements, 25 public diplomacy engagements at the foreign minister level and 20 economic diplomacy engagements.

"Five Pakistan sponsored or cosponsored resolutions were adopted by the United Nations," the FM said, adding that 70 years celebrations were held with six countries.

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The FM added that Pakistan played an important facilitating role for peace in Afghanistan and then for the evacuation of foreigners from Kabul. Reiterating commitment for such a role in the future, he said Pakistan has pledged Rs5 billion for humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people.

"The [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation] countries also agreed on the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Afghans in the recently held OIC Council of Foreign Ministers conference in Islamabad," he said.

"Economic diplomacy has led to improvement by 39 points in Pakistan's ranking in Ease of Doing Business, sevent per cent increase in trade with Africa and improvement by 59 points in Pakistan's Business Confidence Ranking," the minister stated.

Qureshi added that $2.9 billion were deposited in the Roshan Digital Accounts, $2 billion were invested in Naya Pakistan certificates, a 24.1 per cent increase was witnessed in home remittances, and a $2 billion dollars increase was recorded in the export of information technology.

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Regarding digital diplomacy, Qureshi said that all 114 missions had been brought online on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, enabling greater transparency and access.

"Within our region, under [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation] COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Pakistan extended anti-pandemic medical equipment and other assistance to the SAARC member states, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives," the foreign minister said.

He added that the SAARC secretary-general visited Islamabad last week and Pakistan reaffirmed its willingness to host the 19th summit of the forum.

The foreign minister also regretted that the prospects of durable peace and stability in our region, and the great potential for economic development and regional cooperation had been held hostage by the hegemonic and hostile behaviour of India.