Kuwaiti FM Al-Sabah meets Pakistan Pres. Alvi, PM Khan and FM Qureshi
ISLAMABAD — Following a high-level meeting, Pakistan and Kuwait on March 19, 2021, agreed on a roadmap to further expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation and upgrade the ties to a “different level.” The two states’ leadership endorsed a proposal to link the Port of Gwadar with the Kuwait Port of Mubarak al Kabeer.
The two states also agreed to promote cultural ties and linkages in fields of education, adding that the bilateral trajectory of military cooperation was positive.
During the visit Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah had meetings with President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, and other top leadership in Islamabad and held detailed negotiations with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and experts to initiate deeper cooperation.
The two leaders agreed to enhance commercial links, increased trade inter-actions, travel and tourism collaboration as well as initiating sea connectivity to facilitate economic links.
During his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah in Islamabad, Prime Minister Imran Khan has underscored the need for forging deeper economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Pakistan and Kuwait.
PM Khan also appreciated the two countries working closely to ensure ease of travel and enhancing people-to-people linkages. The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister also delivered a letter from the Kuwaiti Prime Minister. The Prime Minister thanked the Kuwaiti leadership for the care afforded to Pakistani expatriates during the pandemic and urged further strengthening of this strong bond of friendship between the two countries.
Kuwaiti FM Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah said the Pakistan-Kuwait ties were 58 years old and acknowledged Pakistan’s historical support and cooperation for Kuwait’s security which continued even to the current era of the pandemic. Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Kuwaiti FM told media that he conveyed a message from Kuwaiti PM which manifested the solid ties between the two countries.
He said both the countries had agreed to institutionalize the bilateral relations to have clear indicators of cooperation in multiple sectors.
Addressing a joint press stakeout here, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and visiting Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of Kuwait, Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah highlighted that the bilateral trade was not up to the potential and there existed a huge room to increase the volume.
The two foreign ministers held delegation-level talks and discussed the wide array of bilateral and regional issues with a particular focus on enhancing bilateral engagement. Foreign Minister Qureshi later told the media that the roadmap was meant to set targets and visions for the future.
He said both sides discussed visa issues lingering on for years wherein he said the Kuwaiti FM gave an encouraging response recognizing the contribution of the Pakistani diaspora in Kuwait’s development.
The foreign minister appreciated Kuwait’s role to diffuse tension between GCC countries. He said the Pakistani community was an “integral part” of Kuwait’s development for which the country was proud of.
To a question, Foreign Minister Qureshi said the bilateral trade of over a billion-dollar was not up to the mark which could be enhanced manifold. He said the Kuwaiti side had also been apprised of the friendly regime, high return, ease of doing business, and potential for investment in Pakistan.
Asked whether Kuwait would mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue, he said Kuwait’s position was clear and went along with the UNSC and OIC resolutions.
However, Kuwait would not hesitate to play a role in amicable resolution of the issues as the country never wanted the friendly countries to enter any tension. Kuwaiti Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah also assured Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari that his country would increase participation of the Pakistani skilled workforce in its multiple trades in the future.
Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed his counterpart on the economic potential of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in particular its Special Economic Zones. Foreign Minister Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah, who was accompanied by senior officials from the Kuwaiti Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Health, and Trade and Commerce, planted a sapling at the premises upholding a long-standing tradition followed by visiting dignitaries.
The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to further strengthening and diversifying bilateral cooperation with Kuwait in all fields. Expressing satisfaction at the recently held Bilateral Political Consultations (January 2021), he reiterated the resolve to work together towards achieving mutually agreed goals.
It was agreed to convene the next (5th) Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission as soon as possible. The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed his counterpart on the situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), in particular, the serious human rights violations and attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory.