Stability in Afghanistan tied to peace in Pakistan: Shahbaz

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The chief executive of Pakistan.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in his keynote speech at a conference, said Pakistan had faced difficult circumstances in 1979 when it became a frontline state in a big war in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan again became a frontline state again in 2002 in the war on terrorism and in this war Pakistan has given sacrifice of more than 70,000 lives,” he told participants, including diplomats from many countries.

Peace in Pakistan was directly tied to stability in Afghanistan, said chief minister, who nominated as the heads the country’s ruling party after the disqualification of his brother Nawaz Sharif as prime minister.

While answer a query from the Afghan ambassador, he pointed to religious and cultural bonds between Afghanistan and Pakistan. “We have hosted four million Afghan refugees for decades. Peace in Afghanistan is needed for peace in Pakistan.”

In reply to questions from other ambassadors, he said: “Our foreign policy will be based on peace, development and economic cooperation so that countries of the region could benefit from resources.”

Diplomats and senior officials from economic institutions from more than 60 countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, Canada, India, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Italy and Japan attended the conference.

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