MALE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that India has harmed South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and undermined the spirit of the regional forum.
Addressing a joint news conference along with Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in Male, the prime minister said the last Islamabad SAARC summit was not the first time that India caused harm to the body by seeking postponement of the summit. “It has done so on four occasions,” he said.
Nawaz said India undermined and violated the spirit of SAARC Charter by casting shadows of bilateral issues and problems on a multilateral forum for regional cooperation. “We, however, remain grateful for President Abdualla Yameen’s support regarding the SAARC summit in Islamabad,” he added.
The prime minister said during the meeting, he also highlighted the ongoing brutal repression and gross human rights violations by the Indian occupation forces in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
The prime minister said he has briefed President Abdulla Yameen on Pakistan’s efforts to fight the scourge of terrorism. “The brave people and armed forces of Pakistan have been resolute in the face of terror and have rendered untold sacrifices,” he said. “We have launched successful operations against terrorists and have won important victories,” he said. It was Pakistan’s contribution to the peace and stability of the entire region, he added. Pakistan and Maldives also agreed to further enhance their bilateral relations in various fields, overcome common challenges and work jointly to make SAARC a vibrant organization.
The prime minister is on a three-day official visit to Maldives on the invitation of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and will be the chief guest at the 52nd Independence Day celebrations of the country on July 26 (today).
Nawaz said Pakistan-Maldives Joint Business Council and Joint Working Group had been established, which would serve as platforms for enhanced trade and investment cooperation by facilitating collaboration between businesses and institutions. In order to sustain on the progress already achieved in bilateral relations, the prime minister said both the countries had constituted four joint working committees. The committees would oversee the implementation of the MoUs signed between the two counties, including those concluded during President Abdulla Yameen’s visit to Pakistan in 2015, he said and added that the MoUs related to sports, health, education and combating illicit drugs.
Nawaz said he briefed President Abdulla Yameen on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the contribution that the truly historic initiative would make to the region’s economic integration, connectivity and shared prosperity.
Published in Daily Times, July 26th , 2017.
