RAWALPINDI: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said Pakistan earnestly believes that accepting the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination with an open heart would result in maintaining conducive environment in the region.
“The best way to resolve mutual difference and conflicts among countries is to take measures in good faith to increase mutual interests,” the President said in his address at the inauguration of an ‘International Conference on Peace and Security in South and Central Asia’.
The three-day conference was organized by the Department of Defence and Diplomatic Studies here at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU).
President Mamnoon said it was necessary that countries in the region maintain atmosphere of cooperation by avoiding negative competition.
“I believe that historical and complex issues like Jammu and Kashmir dispute can be resolved in the same spirit,” he said.
The President said in this age, no region could attain the goals of progress, peace, stability and prosperity unless the international community cooperated with each other with all sincerity.
He stressed for giving preference to the welfare of mankind over “so-called strategic interests”.
“Instead of maintaining relations on the basis of acceptance and rejection, driven by petty interests, the avenues of cooperation in the whole region should be explored,” he said.
President Mamnoon Hussain mentioned that Pakistan and China had set a beautiful example before the world in the form of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and called upon other countries to benefit from the project.
“As a result of this sincere cooperation originating on the basis of human development and prosperity, hatred would be dissipated and horizons of cooperation would be expanded for collective progress,” he said.
He invited all the nations in the region to extend a hand of cooperation towards each other in the interest of one-third of world’s population to lay a strong foundation of progress and prosperity by eliminating poverty, extremism, terrorism and bloodshed.
President Mamnoon Hussain said CPEC was not merely an agreement of cooperation between two countries, but a multi-purpose project which would be a harbinger of progress and prosperity for all countries in the region.
“Pakistan is committed to a comprehensive strategy to take along all its neighbouring countries in this journey towards progress,” he said and expressed satisfaction that Central Asian states were very enthusiastic in this regard.
“Pakistan is optimistic to convert geographical proximity between all neighbouring countries into a positive and fast-paced partnership,” he said.
The President said competition and differences between civilizations was no strange thing, however emphasized that far-sighted nations, instead of indulging in such issues to mar the future of coming generations, convert it into opportunities.
He said Central Asia and Southeast Asia were not only geographically situated in close proximity, but their fate was also aligned in religious, cultural and economic matters.
He said the holding of international conference by the Fatima Jinnah Women University was a welcome step and expressed the hope that it would contribute to recommendations aimed at bringing peace in the region.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor FJWU Dr Samina Amin Qadir in her welcome address said the purpose of conference was to fulfill the academic gap about the current regional situation.
She said educational institutions could play an important role in inculcating a positive approach among the new generation in dealing with the world affairs.
Chairman Higher Education Commission Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said educational diplomacy was a new forum to promote a sense of prudence to resolve the issues through serious discussions.
He said fighting with each other was not a solution for the region’s countries, and called for taking steps for sustainable peace.
