Afghan peace interlinked with regional harmony, stability: Qayyum

Convener of Pakistan-France Parliamentary Friendship Group Senator Lieutenant General (Retired) Abdul Qayyum said the solution of Kashmir issue and peace in Afghanistan were interlinked with harmony and stability of South Asia.
He said this while holding meetings with French parliamentarians during his recently 3-day official visit to Paris, France, where he met President of French Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense Christian Cambon, President of Pakistan-France Friendship Group in French National Assembly Jean-Bernard Sempastous and President of Pakistan-France Business Council Thierry Pflimlin, French Minister of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Baptistery, President Pakistan-France Parliamentary Friendship Group in French Senate Pascal Alizard and other foreign and defence ministries’ officials, a press release said.
Besides seeking help for bilateral cooperation in various fields including health, education, construction, agriculture research, investments in energy and industrial sectors, in achieving sustainable development goals and Afghan refugees’ repatriation, he asked France, being a permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, to play its role in resolving Kashmir issue as per aspirations of the people of Kashmir and the United Nations resolutions.
He briefed his French counterparts about Pakistan’s efforts in curbing terrorism and said the Pakistani nation through unprecedented sacrifices had defeated the forces of terrorism and extremism, and today Pakistan was on the path of peace and development with an impressive growth rate, infrastructure development and improvement of social sector.
During his stay, he witnessed the proceedings of French Senate where he along his other colleagues was warmly welcomed by giving standing ovation.
The French Senate chairperson saluted Pakistani senators’ delegation and said bicameralism did not only deal with legislative agenda but could also enhance diplomatic relations.
He hoped that inter-parliamentary exchange would further strengthen bilateral ties and reveal reciprocal opportunities between the two countries.
The delegation also visited MEDEF and was received by M Thierry Pflimlin who briefed the senators about the current state of business relations between Pakistan and France.
He said there was a renewed interest amongst French companies due to impressive economic growth and numerous investment opportunities in Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the delegation was comprised Senator Muhammad Saleh Shah from Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Senator Muhammad Usman Kakar from Balochistan and Senator Baz Muhammad Khan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Later, General Abdul Qayyum paid visit to Leeds, United kingdom where he asked the British parliamentarians to raise their voice against the ongoing human rights (HR) violations in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) in the House of Commons.
He said this during a meeting with British parliamentarians Alex Sobel and Hillary Benn who was a former minister of Labour Party.
Abdul Qayyum said they promised to do the needful and also expressed their determination to recommend their government not to supply any kind of arms and ammunition to India until its seven hundred thousand personnel committing atrocities in IoK would be withdrawn.
He appealed them, “Since Britain was part of the Kashmir problem, it is morally bound to be part of the solution also.”

Source: APP