Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that Pakistan believes the Palestine conflict can only be resolved through a two-state solution and the country will continue to support this path. He made the remarks while addressing a media briefing in Islamabad.
Dar said Pakistan strongly rejects the Greater Israel plan and stressed that peace can only be achieved through dialogue. He also called on the Afghan government to either hand over Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members or remove them from Afghan soil, adding that Kabul has assured Islamabad it will integrate these individuals into its system.
Speaking on regional matters, Dar dismissed the recent statement by the Indian naval chief, saying it did not deserve a reply. He highlighted progress in ties with Bangladesh, noting that all three major political parties in Dhaka have shown willingness to cooperate with Pakistan. He added that Pakistan aims to double or even triple trade with Bangladesh in the coming years.
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Dar shared that the Trans-Afghan Railway project will span 647 kilometres and require around 8 to 9 billion dollars in investment. He said Pakistan played a constructive role in encouraging diplomacy during the Israel-Iran conflict and continues to seek closer ties between Iran and global powers as a sincere friend.
The deputy prime minister further said that next year will mark 75 years of Pakistan-China relations, with China reaffirming its support for Pakistan’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that six agreements have been signed between Pakistan and Bangladesh, including the removal of visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders, and the creation of a joint working group to boost trade.
On relations with the UK, Dar announced that 1.7 million Pakistanis will benefit from Punjab’s digitised land records at the UK High Commission. Passport procedures will also be streamlined with a one-window system, cutting processing times from one hour to just ten minutes. He added that weekly flights from Pakistan to Manchester will increase to three or four from September.
Dar said Pakistan’s trade ties with the UK are growing stronger, while relations with China remain highly positive. He confirmed that the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has nearly been completed, and work on the second phase is progressing.
