Thursday, August 20, 2015

Pakistan - Kasuri points out ‘missing’ foreign minister

Commenting on recent defence agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, former Foreign Affairs minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri has pointed out ‘missing’ of a Foreign Affairs minister from the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying Pakistan need a full time minister to deal foreign affairs accordingly.

Talking to Daily Times, Kasuri said that Pakistan was lacking a full time Foreign Affairs minister as the office was being held with the worthy prime minister himself who always has other engagements. At present, the Foreign Office has two bosses which is also creating hurdle in smooth sailing of the affairs, he said.

He said that the biggest achievement of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was that the UAE announced open support for India’s permanent berth in the UN Security Council. “Indian investment in UAE and defence pact between the two is an added advantage,” he added. He also said that Pakistan had failed in dealing with the Saudi-Yemen issue in a proper way.

“Saudi Arabia is a tried and tested friend of Pakistan and always supported it at all level and all forums,” he said, adding Iran is also a good neighbour. In Pakistan, both Saudi Arabia and Iran have following as Sunni people have soft corner for the Saudi kingdom while the Islamic Republic of Iran was dear to Shia people, he pointed out.

“When there is an issue between the Saudi kingdom and Iran, the government will have to deal with the issue carefully and wisely as we must know that these two countries are very important to us,” the former minister said. He also suggested to the government to deal the Yemen issue carefully and the two (Saudis and Iran) should be taken into confidence on it.

But the Foreign Office could not deal properly the Yemen issue, Kasuri said. The former minister is of the view that Pakistan should have talked to the Saudi kingdom and also go to Iran on the issue that could help keep the two nations near to Pakistan. To a question, he also said that Pakistan should appoint a full time minister for foreign affairs.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/20-Aug-2015/kasuri-points-out-missing-foreign-affairs-minister

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