Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has said that Pakistan's foreign policy is aimed at promoting peace and security at the regional and global level. He was addressing as chief guest at a seminar on "Pakistan's relationship with United States and India" organised by Pakistan Thinkers Forum here on Sunday.
Former Governor Punjab Shahid Hamid presided over the seminar. Former Chief of Army Staff General Jehangir Karamat(retd), former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan, senior journalists Arif Nizami, Mehmood Sham and Agha Amir Hussain also spoke on the occasion.
Kasuri said "We believe that peace and stability provide the best environment for eradication of poverty, accelerating economic growth and the achievement of full economic potential of Pakistan."
He said India and Pakistan became adversaries at the time of independence. Britain left several unresolved issues including that of Kashmir which continues to be an obstacle in improving relations between India and Pakistan.
Kasuri further said 9/11 incident resulted in paradigm shift in international relations and directly impacted on South Asia. At this crucial juncture President Pervez Musharraf took the bold and timely decisions.
He said Pakistan's independent position on issues of international importance like Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and its increasing engagement with Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and management of difficult relationships with Afghanistan and India are all signs of an active foreign policy.
He said Pakistan has skilfully navigated through turbulent times.
"We have managed to maintain and improve our relations with all the major powers even though their interests may not always coincide with ours."
He said Pakistan continuously examined options to protect and promote its national interests in the face of developments that pose new challenges.
Other speakers while highlighting their views on different aspects of foreign policy of the country said there is no permanent friend or permanent enemy but countries have to change their policy as per their interests.
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