ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar Tuesday dispelled the impression of Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation, saying that there was absolutely no denying of the fact that China was the most effective strategic partner of Pakistan.
Responding to criticism that India had been able to block BRICS invite to Pakistan during a budget session in the National Assembly, Khar said Pakistan was playing a much bigger role on the international front than its size in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We are very happy to state that over the years, Pakistani diplomats, Pakistani statesmen and Pakistani politicians have contributed towards [effectiveness of] a policy in the multilateral institutions. Pakistan’s foreign policy is moving in the right direction with all diplomatic missions ‘working complicatedly on all fronts’,” she added.
The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) brings together five of the largest developing countries in the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24pc of the global GDP and 16pc of the global trade.
“China is part of BRICS which means all the member countries have to work to cooperate [with] each other”, the state minister added.
If a certain unfriendly country, she said, wanted to block Pakistan and succeeded in doing so, then “how can we doubt China’s intention”? She said in BRICS “we don’t have a role but we still have core roles in many other international forums such as heart of Asia”.
She also asserted that Pakistan was fighting the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui at every diplomatic level.
Hina Rabbani Khar said that Pakistan was fighting Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s case at every diplomatic level and that the country was consistent in its policy across the governments to fight in favor of the case.
She said, however, every country had its own laws, rules and regulations besides its sovereign right. “At present, she has the counsellor access and her requirements are also being fulfilled”, she said, adding Aafia’s case was also being fought at every diplomatic level.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs made it clear that Pakistan was in no isolation as its foreign policy moved in the right direction with all diplomatic missions working complicatedly on all fronts.
Hina Rabbani Khar said the foreign policy of a country was useful if it severed in the interests of the people of that country. “We are making it sure that the government works for Pakistan not for any individual and party”, she added.
Speaking about the case of detained Kashmiri Leader Yaseen Malik, she said Pakistan was raising voice and working on it with effective diplomacy.
“India today is not a secular state, it has become a rogue state and it has become a nation which is not going on the principles and the morals which is said by Nehru and Mahatma Ghandi,” she pointed out.
The minister said Pakistani diplomats worked day and night to make sure that the OIC gave a joint statement in this regard, adding there was a big change in the organization now, as the OIC’s voice had gained weight on the international level.
