FM leaves for Dushanbe to attend Heart of Asia ministerial moot

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday left here for Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe to attend 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) Ministerial Conference being held on March 30.

The foreign minister, in a video statement prior his departure, said he would represent Pakistan at the conference to be participated by 15 countries of the region, 16 supporting States and 12 regional and international organizations.

Qureshi said he would highlight Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace and the future strategy to contribute to sustainable stability of the country.

He expressed hope that Pakistan’s role towards peace in Afghanistan would be acknowledged.

The foreign minister said he would also hold meeting with his counterparts including Turkey, Iran, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

The ministerial meeting will be preceded by Senior Officials Meeting on March 29. The theme of the Conference is “Strengthening Consensus for Peace and Development.”

During the conference, the foreign minister will deliver a statement highlighting Pakistan’s positive contributions to the Afghan peace process and its support for Afghanistan’s development and connectivity within the regional framework.

On the sidelines of the conference, the foreign minister will hold consultations with key regional and international partners.

Initiated in 2011, the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, is an important platform to promote peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan through regional cooperation, confidence-building measures (CBMs), and dialogue.

Pakistan attaches high importance to this Process and has been a regular contributor to the advancement of its objectives. Pakistan is the lead country for Disaster Management and Agriculture Development CBMs under the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process.

In 2015, Pakistan co-chaired the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, along with Afghanistan, and hosted its 5th Ministerial Conference in Islamabad.

During his visit to Dushanbe, the foreign minister will have bilateral engagement with the Tajik leadership.

Besides holding talks with Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Foreign Minister Qureshi will have interaction with other Tajik dignitaries and review the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

Pakistan highly values its close fraternal ties with countries in Central Asia. Pakistan’s relations with Tajikistan are firmly rooted in common faith, shared history, and geographic proximity.

There is a mutual interest in developing close cooperative ties in all areas. Pakistan hopes that the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan would further strengthen its historic links with Central Asia, including Tajikistan.

The foreign minister’s visit to Tajikistan will help deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields and reinforce the growing partnership between the two brotherly countries.