ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed upon enhanced bilateral economic cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia in diverse fields. During an interview with an Indonesian TV channel, he opined that there existed large scope of cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia.

He said that they had signed MoU for setting up joint ministerial commission between two countries, adding economic and bilateral ties between two countries had more potential which required to be unlocked.

Bilawal said first and second largest Muslim countries working together on any issues had big scope.

“I believe sky is limit and lot can be changed,” he said, adding that they were very keen to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts between two countries. He observed that both countries had already been cooperating at multilateral fora including OIC, ASEAN, UN, G77 and other global bodies. To question, he said that Pakistan had gained experience in combating terrorism and both countries could learn from each other’s experiences. He mentioned that roots of hatred, division, extremism and terrorism which also gave rise to Islamophobia internationally, were other issues over which Indonesia and Pakistan should work together.

To a query about Afghanistan, Bilawal said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar had recently visited Afghanistan with delegation. She held ‘productive and meaningful engagements’ with Afghan interim government authorities over host of issues and most important issue of terrorism.

“No one wants Afghanistan to become hotbed or launching pad of terrorists’ attacks in region or anywhere else. We are hopeful one-year-old Afghan interim government will not only address issue of terrorism, but also provide security because that’s fundamental prerequisite for peace and prosperity,” he added. Bilawal said it was in Pakistan’s interests that there should be peace in Afghanistan. It would also create economic opportunities for people of Pakistan as well as for Afghans, he added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 14 2022

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