Pakistan much closer to Arab countries

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has expressed his deep appreciation for the historical ties between Pakistan and the Arab countries, which are based on a broad base of common interests and cultural, religious and people ties.

This came during the meeting of Aboul Gheit on Thursday in Cairo with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is currently visiting Egypt.

The General Secretariat of the Arab League (AL) said that the foreign minister of Pakistan stressed, during the meeting, his country’s keenness to strengthen cooperation frameworks between Pakistan and the League and Arab countries in various fields of common interest.

Qureshi said Pakistan enjoyed strong political, trade and bilateral relations with all member countries of the Arab League.

In a meeting with Gheit during his visit to the AL Headquarters in Cairo, the foreign minister said Pakistan believed that its deep ties with Arab countries were a sign of special relationship with the Arab League.

During the meeting, a number of issues of regional and global importance besides matters of mutual interest were discussed. Referring to the Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and the AL, the foreign minister stressed the need to implement its framework through mutual cooperation and coordination.

Qureshi apprised the Secretary General of Pakistan’s reconciliatory efforts for the establishment of peace in neighbouring Afghanistan. 

Earlier, Aboul Gheit welcomed the foreign minister and showed him different sections of the AL Headquarters.

Later during the day, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi held talks with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi on boosting security and economic cooperation between the two countries, said the Egyptian presidency in a statement.

Sisi and Qureshi discussed bolstering ties between Egypt and Pakistan “especially in terms of security and economic cooperation, and trade and investment exchange”, the Xinhua news reported on Thursday.

They also agreed to enhance coordination and consultation on issues of mutual concern, including combating terrorism, “which is considered one of the most serious challenges facing the two countries,” according to the statement.

WAM / IANS