ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (APP): Pakistan on Thursday accorded formal recognition to the new government of Libya.Foreign Office Chairperson Tehmina Janjua told reporters here at the weekly briefing, “We recognize State and Government of Libya.”Wishing the people of Libya a prosperous future, she said Pakistan and Libya had maintained longstanding ties, which would be further promoted in future.Regarding the Most Favoured Nation status to India, the spokesperson said the Federal Cabinet had authorised the Minister of Commerce to pursue negotiations with India for normalisation of trade between the two countries leading to observance of MNF status to India.
Replying to a question Tehmina Janjua said Pakistan and India were in a resumed dialogue process and both the sides had agreed that friendly ties between the two countries were critical for development of the region.
She said all issues including peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir were discussed by the foreign secretaries and foreign ministers earlier this year.
She said trilateral meeting of the presidents of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan, assisted by foreign ministers, proved to be extremely useful.
During the meeting President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated full support and cooperation to trilateral partnership among Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey to ensure peace, security, stability and development in Afghanistan.
The President expressed the confidence that the summit would give further impetus to the joint efforts of the three countries for the progress and prosperity in the region.
She said two protocols were signed among the three countries for training of police personnel and conduct of mutual military exercises.
Earlier in her opening statement, the spokesperson updated the reporters on events in the context of recent meetings relating to Afghanistan.
She said Pakistan’s principled objectives with regard to Afghanistan were to promote stability, peace and prosperity in the brotherly country.
“This is important for peace and stability in the region as a whole. We have supported all initiatives for peace and stability and regional economic cooperation,” she added.
“We are actively participating in all trilateral processes with regard to Afghanistan. These include Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey, Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran, Pakistan-Afghanistan-US and the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan-Russia quadrilateral as well as the SCO sponsored processes and RECCA,” she added.
The spokesperson said President Asif Ali Zardari visited Istanbul on the invitation of President Abdullah Gul to participate in the Sixth Trilateral meeting among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey and bilateral discussions with President Gul.
She termed the trilateral meeting in which President Zardari, President Abdullah Gul and President Hamid Karzai were assisted by the foreign ministers and military and intelligence heads of the three countries, as “very useful.”
At the trilateral summit, the President reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the trilateral partnership concept among the three countries. “We attach importance to the ongoing trilateral Ankara process”.
The trilateral meeting adopted a joint statement which underscored trans-regional development as a key priority and security cooperation as the main focus of the Sixth Trilateral Summit.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar represented Pakistan at the Istanbul regional Conference on Afghanistan and reiterated country’s stance.
She said the Foreign Minister extended assurance to the government and people of Afghanistan of Pakistan’s full support in their endeavours to overcome all challenges and to assure themselves a bright future of stability, peace and prosperity.
She said a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was vital for Pakistan’s own security and stability and that of our common region.
The Foreign Minister also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to promote socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the region by a mutually collaborative endeavour that optimizes the region’s collective development potential.
There was a support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of peace and reconciliation which was inclusive and lead to reestablishment of societal equilibrium that conforms fully with the aspirations of the Afghan nation, its customs and traditions.
Foreign Minister Khar stressed the importance of the return of three million Afghan refugees hosted in Pakistan to their homes in safety and with honour.
She stressed that existing regional organizations particularly ECO and SCO can play an important role.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan would continue to endeavour to enhance its bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan to realize the vision of peace and prosperity contained in the three declarations signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The spokesperson said the Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan adopted a broad ranging document that stipulates certain principles and CBMs which constitute an expression of the regions solidarity and support for Afghanistan.
She said Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani returned from Perth, Australia, after participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting.
The theme of this year’s CHOGM was ‘Building national resilience, building global resilience” and Commonwealth’s theme for 2011 has been “Women as agents of change and youth development”.
She said the Prime Minister actively participated in the executive sessions and the retreat and addressed both issues, especially Pakistan’s commitment to the advancement of women and food security.
The Prime Minister also participated in a joint special event on polio eradication. The Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the President of Nigeria also participated in this event.
The spokesperson said Prime Minister Gilani had substantive meetings with the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, on the sidelines.