Caretaker FM to visit UK next week

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will undertake his maiden foreign trip next week, as he is set to travel to the United Kingdom (UK).

Foreign Office sources told The Express Tribune here on Tuesday that Jilani will undertake a three-day visit to the UK starting from Sept 11.

He will have a series of engagements during his stay in London.

He will hold talks with his British counterpart and other officials.

The agenda includes reviewing the bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.

This will be his first visit to the UK since he assumed charge as foreign minister.

Jilani is a veteran diplomat, who served as Pakistan’s foreign secretary and ambassador to Washington.

In his recent interaction with journalists, the foreign minister said Pakistan wanted to maintain close ties with all major powers.

He underlined the importance of Pakistan’s close ties with European countries as well as the UK to advance the country’s economic and other interests.

Following his three-day stay in the UK, Jilani will travel to New York for the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Read also: British Envoy calls on FM Jilani

He will join caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, who will lead Pakistan’s delegation at the UNGA.

Kakar will deliver a keynote address at the UNGA.

He will present Pakistan’s perspective on a range of issues, including Kashmir, war on terror, negative fallout of climate change as well as efforts to revive the ailing economy.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, besides Kakar, Jilani too will have bilateral meetings with his counterparts.

Details of those meetings are currently being worked out, according to the sources.

Earlier, he was to accompany the prime minister during his visit to Kenya for the African Climate Summit.

Kakar cancelled his visit due to unrest over inflated electricity bills.

The prime minister was advised to review his decision as he was warned that any foreign trip at this juncture would invite public backlash.

Initially it was decided that Jilani might represent Pakistan at the African Climate Summit but later his visit was put off too.