ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said Pakistan wants to work closely with Afghanistan for peace and prosperity in the region as a peaceful Afghanistan is in favour of Pakistan and the entire region.

“Pakistan would also like to have good relations with the United States as well as with our neighbours based on mutual respect and equality,” explained Mr Sadiq while talking to German Ambassador Martin Kobler and senior officials of the Federal Academy of Security Policy of Germany in the Parliament House on Tuesday.

Regarding stability in the landlocked neighbouring country, the Speaker Sadiq said Pakistan wanted to strengthen relations with Afghanistan and work together for peace and prosperity in the region. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are victims of terrorism and both suffered a lot from the menace of extremism. A joint strategy and closer cooperation to address the root cause of terrorism are needed between the two neighbours,” he said.

Mr Sadiq also briefed them about the visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan and shared details regarding their meetings with the Afghan leadership. He also discussed in detail the objectives of the First Speakers’ Conference held in Islamabad in December 2017. He told the delegation that the speakers from Afghanistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran and China attended the conference to share their point of view about the ways to tackle the menace of terrorism in the region as well as to connect with each other for prosperity and development.

About Pakistan-US relations, Mr Sadiq said Pakistan would like to have good relations with the US based on mutual respect and equality. He said all political parties in parliament were on the same page on the issue of Pak-US relations. Pakistan’s foreign policy would never be shaped under any foreign influence, he added.

While answering a question about relations with India, he said that Pakistan wanted better ties with India without any compromise on the dignity and honour of Pakistan. However, he added, “moving forward” with India was not possible by brushing aside the Kashmir issue. “Regional peace and inclusive development, not only for the sub-continent but for the entire region will remain a mere dream, if the international community keeps side stepping the Kashmir issue,” the speaker observed.

Referring to Pakistan-Germany relations, Mr Sadiq said both countries enjoyed cordial relations which needed to be strengthened further through substantive and long-term parliamentary and economic cooperation. In this regard, he highlighted the need for a regular interaction between political leadership, parliamentarians and people of both countries.

Exchanging views on global and regional issues, he said that Pakistan had a keen interest in promoting regional stability and was making consistent efforts for regional peace and economic stability. He asserted that as Germany remained one of the vocal and staunch supporters of Pakistan, political engagement on both sides would bring the nations closer and pave ways for inter-parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation. He called for exploring possibilities of cooperation in trade and development. This would strengthen impetus of bilateral economic relations between the two countries, he said.

The German ambassador agreed that frequent interaction between business communities and parliamentarians would benefit both countries. He said Germany being the Europe’s largest economy was keen to maintain intensive and friendly relations with Pakistan. Mr Kobler further said Germany would continue to support Pakistan at the regional as well as international level in its efforts towards achieving democratic and economic development.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2018