Pakistan’s PM to embark on 3-day visit to Saudi Arabia

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ISLAMABD, 07 May, 2021 (TON): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to begin his high-profile official visit on today, as per a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday.

According to Pakistan Foreign Office, Imran Khan will embark on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 7 to 9 on the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the Foreign Minister and other members of the Cabinet.

“During the visit, the prime minister’s consultations with the Saudi leadership will cover all areas of bilateral cooperation including economic, trade, investment, energy, job opportunities for Pakistani workforce, and welfare of Pakistani Diaspora in the Kingdom,” the communiqué stated.

The two sides would also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. A number of bilateral agreements/MoUs (memorandum of understanding) are expected to be signed during the visit as well.

“The Prime Minister will also meet the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen, the Secretary-General of the World Muslim League, Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and the Imams of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Medina,” the press release stated.

Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa has already reached Saudi Arabia on May 5.

The relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is indeed a strong one that goes back decades. Pakistan maintains close military ties with Saudi Arabia, providing extensive support, arms and training for the Saudi armed forces.

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NEW YORK, 2 June, 2021, (TON): General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir is “saddened” by India’s reaction to his statements on Kashmir, according to his Deputy Spokesperson Amy Quantrill, who has asserted that they were taken out of context.

During a news briefing on Tuesday Amy Quantrill said, "The President was saddened to see a press statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which portrays his remarks on Jammu and Kashmir from a selective perspective, while they are consistent with the longstanding UN position regarding this issue."

She said that "It is regrettable that the President's remarks were taken out of context."

In a news conference in Islamabad last week, Bozkir said in reference to Kashmir that "I think it is the duty, especially Pakistan's, to bring this to the United Nation platform more strongly."

While speaking with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at his side, Bozkir also endorsed Islamabad's attempts -- so far unsuccessful -- to link the Kashmir issue to the Palestine problem.

"As the minister mentioned, and also compared to two important things, I think the two problems are of the same age, Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, and I fully agree that this is the case," he said.

He also added that the Kashmir issue does not have the "same enlarged political wind behind it" like the Palestine cause.

Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reacting to Bozkir's statement had said, "When an incumbent President of the UN General Assembly makes misleading and prejudiced remarks, he does great disservice to the office he occupies. The President of the UN General Assembly's behaviour is truly regrettable and surely diminishes his standing on the global platform."

"We express our strong opposition to the unwarranted references made with respect to the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the President of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir during his recent visit to Pakistan," he said.

United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir visited Pakistan from May 26-28.
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