Pakistani foreign minister will embark on a four-nation tour as part of the diplomatic initiative to secure support for its position and role on Afghanistan and South Asian security.
The visit will take Khawaja Asif, the new foreign minister to China, Russia, Iran and Turkey, and begins at the conclusion of a gathering of Pakistani ambassadors from the leading world capitals, who are currently meeting in Islamabad.
Islamabad’s move to reach out to the regional countries follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s unveiling of a new Afghan and South Asian policy in which he accused Pakistan of providing havens to terrorist groups, and ignored destabilizing roles of India and Afghanistan.
Islamabad was hoping that its counterterrorism role, sacrifices and security concerns will find a place in the U.S. foreign policy but since August 25 U.S. policy enunciation, Pakistani government and institutions have faced criticism for diplomatic failure in convincing Washington and other capitals of its views.
At the end of the ongoing three-day envorys moot in Islamabad, the Asif will leave for the tour of four regional nations on September 8 .
As per reports the envoys in the conference are discussing potential strengths of the country’s foreign policy and options available to it in view of the geo-political and regional situation.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif while opening the moot said that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict.
He asked diplomats to highlight continuing human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir at all available international platforms.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will chair the concluding session of the moot on September 7.
Foreign Minister Asif will leave for Beijing on September 8 followed by visits to Moscow, Teheran and Ankara.
Later this month, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will fly to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly.
