News Desk
Pakistan is committed to forge closer cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in diverse fields, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said, adding that Pakistan and the UAE enjoy fraternal relations based on religious and cultural harmony.
According to media reports, the Foreign Minister stated these during a meeting with UAE Minister of State Reem Al Hashimi on the sidelines of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Niger.
Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest including Pakistan’s participation in Expo and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation on various issues. It was agreed to enhance mutual exchanges to carry forward the process of growing bilateral cooperation.
The UAE Minister lauded Pakistan’s initiative to propose OIC resolution on combating Islamophobia.
During the meeting, both sides also stressed the importance of further strengthening of OIC as a united and pivotal platform for the Muslim Ummah.
FM Qureshi also held a meeting with his Niger Counterpart Kalla Ankouraou and stressed the need for expanding economic and commercial ties between the two countries.
He apprised him about the worsening human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He particularly mentioned India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August last year, and subsequent steps to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory, in violation of UNSC resolutions.
The Somalian Minister of State, Bilal Mohammad Osman also called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Niger. Both sides discussed a wide range of issues with a focus on Pakistan-Somalia relations and mutual support at multilateral fora.
Qureshi said that Pakistan, under its “Engage Africa” initiative, attaches high importance to its relations with African countries.
