Pakistan and Algeria face same challenges: Mushahid

Freedom-loving people all over the world will continue to derive inspiration from the epic and heroic struggle waged by the brave Algerian people to achieve independence, says Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He was speaking to the members of the Algerian Parliamentary delegation headed by Abdelkader Bensalah, currently visiting Pakistan, which met the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate at the Parliament House on Wednesday.
Senator Mushahid Hussain said all oppressed people throughout the world got inspiration from the Algerian struggle for independence during the 60s and 70s and this would remain so for all times to come.
He recalled that during that era Farhat Abbas, hero of Algerian independence and NLF (National Liberation Front) of Algeria was household names in many parts of the world, including Pakistan.
He also recalled the fateful visit of the late Algerian President Boumedinne to Pakistan in 1974 to attend the historic Islamic Summit at Lahore. He said that today Pakistan and Algeria have similar challenges ie terrorism and extremism apart from improving the quality of life of their people. He said the two countries have identity of views on many regional and global issues. He underscored the need of closer Parliamentary interaction and co-operation between the two countries in all fields to overcome the contemporary challenges.
Speaking on the occasion Senator, Nisar Ahmed Memon said Pakistan and Algeria both being Muslim countries had many things in common including their colonial past and yearning for glory in future. As such, he said both the countries could learn from each others' experiences.
Both the countries desired peaceful and negotiated settlement of disputes and wanted to promote peace and harmony in the world. He said that Pakistan is currently engaged in composite dialogue process with India to find peaceful settlement of all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir.
The leader of the Algerian Parliamentary delegation and President, of the Council of the National Senate of Algeria, Abdelkader Bensalah said that his country highly valued its relations with Pakistan adding that the Algerians still fondly cherish the memories of Pakistan support for their freedom struggle and they would 'never forget those who stood by them in difficult times'. He hoped that the visit would further strengthen the bilateral relations and would culminate on closer Parliamentary Co-operation.
He said that Algeria belongs to the Muslim and the Arab world and it desires early settlement of disputes like Palestine and Kashmir in a just and peaceful manner. He said that their country supports all freedom struggles for realising the right of self-determination. He said Algeria supports political independence and territorial integrity of Iraq.