Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto holds talks with German FM

Islamabad: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari received the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock at the Foreign Office Tuesday and held wide-ranging consultations.

During the delegation-level talks, the two sides had an extensive exchange of views on various aspects of bilateral relations with a special focus on enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, climate change, and renewable energy. The Foreign Minister hoped that bilateral relations would be strengthened further through regular high-level exchanges, which had acquired a steady momentum in recent years. The Foreign Minister appreciated German companies doing business in Pakistan and invited more companies to take advantage of Pakistan’s business friendly policies.

In the regional context, the Foreign Minister stressed the need for the international community to come together to address the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister added that the release of Afghan financial assets was important for helping stabilize the economy. He also said that Pakistan continued to provide humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Baerbock thanked Pakistan for its role in facilitating the evacuation of foreign nationals and others from Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assured the German side that Pakistan would support the evacuation request.

While discussing the situation in Ukraine, the Foreign Minister shared Pakistan’s concern over the continuation of military conflict. Reiterating Pakistan’s principled position, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan believed that a solution must be found through dialogue and diplomacy. He added that ramifications of this conflict were being felt far beyond the European Continent, as far as in Pakistan, due to rising fuel and food prices. The Foreign Minister added that in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and despite our own economic challenges, Pakistan had sent relief goods and humanitarian aid for the affected Ukrainian people.

The Foreign Minister also drew attention to the serious human rights violations in IIOJK, the rising tide of Islamophobia across India also manifested in the recent repugnant remarks by two BJP officials towards the person of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), and risks posed by these developments to peace and stability.