Appreciating Pakistan's independent foreign policy and its principled stand on all international affairs, Pakistan Muslim League on Friday lauded the efforts of President General Pervez Musharraf to present country's point of view in a strong and effective manner during his recent visit abroad.
Addressing a seminar organised by Foreign Relations Committee of Pakistan Muslim League at PML House on "Pakistan's Foreign Policy and recent visit of President Musharraf" the PML leaders termed the visit successful, useful and fruitful. President PML Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain presided over the seminar which was addressed by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiyar, former Foreign Minister and Senior Vice President of PML Gohar Ayub, Chairperson Foreign Relations Committee of PML Attiya Anayatullah and Zafar Bakhtwari.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain speaking on the occasion said the PML government along with its allies have been concentrating on interfaith harmony and to live with mutual respect and honour.
He said similar policy should be adopted at the global level, so that extremist elements were sidelined.
Referring to Pakistan's committed stand on international affairs, the PML President said when he was Prime Minister he flatly refused to send troops to Iraq and told the Americans that it will be impossible for Pakistan to send troops to Iraq.
He said he even suggested that if there is a need to send peace mission to Iraq it should be under the joint control of the United Nations and OIC.
Shujaat, who is also writing a book, said President Pervez Musharraf during his recent visit to four countries presented Pakistan's policies in an effective and strong way and cleared the misperceptions of the West and Europe.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri giving details of foreign policy and President's recent visit, said our foreign policy is independent and the country had taken a principled stand on all regional and international issues.
The Minister said the foreign policy should be bipartisan and the opposition should be on board on all issues. He said the government never hides anything in the foreign policy and always tried to take along every one to adopt impartial policies.
He said due to independence and impartial foreign policy, Pakistan is the only country which has strategic relations simultaneously with America and China.
Giving detailed encounter of the recent visit of the President, the Minister said, due to this visit, Pakistan and India decided to resume composite dialogue process which was suspended.
About Afghanistan's allegation, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan offered to fence the border but the Afghan government refused this offer. He said the Afghan government was not ready to repatriate three million refugees living in Pakistan after 1979 Russian attack on Afghanistan.
He said according to a UN report majority of recruitment and training to terrorists was within Afghanistan. He said 92 percent of the poppy cultivation of the world is in Afghanistan.
He said President Musharraf, through his book, has successfully presented 'Pakistan's case' to the world community.
Pakistan never took decisions under any pressure and all the foreign policies were prepared to protect national interest, he added. Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, speaking on the occasion, said Pakistan's foreign policy is broad-based and diversified.
He said President Musharraf was the first leader from Pakistan to address the European Union Parliament and he very successfully presented Pakistan's point of view to the European leaders.
Mushahid said Pakistan is pursuing an independent foreign policy. He pointed out that during the relief operation Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and government of Pakistan welcomed medical team from Cuba, which has hostile relations with US. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiyar, also spoke on the occasion.
Former foreign minister Gohar Ayub appreciated the efforts of President Musharraf to project the real image of Pakistan during the visit.