Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met a cross-party group of Pakistan-origin British parliamentarians at Pakistan House in London and discussed bilateral ties and regional developments.
The delegation included Lords Zameer Choudrey, Qurban Hussain and Shaffaq Mohammed, Baroness Shaista Sheehan, and Members of Parliament Mohammad Yasin, Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan, Zubir Ahmed and Adnan Hussain.
Dar appreciated the role of the British lawmakers in strengthening Pakistan-UK relations and their support for a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The parliamentarians praised Pakistan’s leadership and diplomatic efforts to promote peace and de-escalation in the Middle East. They said Pakistan’s historic role in the region had received international recognition and was a source of pride for overseas Pakistanis.
FM Dar briefed the lawmakers on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and reducing tensions in the Middle East. He stressed that adherence by all parties to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was essential for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
He also highlighted the significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in promoting regional peace and stability, stressing that the pact was purely defensive in nature.
The meeting also covered recent developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The British parliamentarians congratulated Mr Dar on the PML-N’s victory in the recent legislative assembly elections.
Ishaq Dar said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had expressed confidence in the PML-N based on its previous record of economic growth and development.
He said the new government would focus on attracting investment, improving infrastructure and creating employment opportunities for young people in the region.
The deputy prime minister said the federal government and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government would work with other political parties and stakeholders to build consensus on key governance and constitutional matters.
The parliamentarians also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-UK relations.
