Zardari stresses need for economic diplomacy

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said that no external force would be allowed to take action on our soil, as Pakistani forces were fully capable of curbing the menace of terror.


The President said this while chairing a special briefing session held for him and the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on major foreign policy issues here at the Foreign Office.


President Zardari said that those involved in subversive acts and terrorist activities would be dealt with in a stern manner.


However, he added, any action, if and where required, would be taken only by our own security forces inside Pakistani territory, according to an official privy to two-hour consultations held at the Foreign Ministry.


Earlier, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the country's top leadership to the Foreign Office. His welcome note was followed by a detailed presentation on different foreign policy issues by the Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, the official said.


National Security Advisor, Mahmood Ali Durrani also attended the briefing.


In his address, President Zardari said that diplomacy being one of the most important instruments of state policy must be geared not only for conflict prevention and resolution but also to advance the country's trade and development agenda.


"There were many opportunities offered by today's globalized world and we needed to seize them", he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.


The President particularly stressed the importance of economic diplomacy, both to promote trade, commerce and foreign investments and to raise Pakistan's profile on key regional and international economic issues.


He said this briefing was among his very first engagements after assuming the office of the President. That showed the importance that he attached to country's foreign policy and the role of the Foreign Office, he added.


The President said that the completion of democratic transition in Pakistan gave us a fresh identity and brought us back in the global mainstream.


He said that in efforts to consolidate democracy, promote development and good governance, and counter terrorism, the national institutions must make their rightful contribution in the service of the people.


The democratic transformation must result in institutional reform and renewal, he added.


President Zardari stated that the country was facing myriad challenges. He urged the Foreign Service officers to work with a strategic vision and professional commitment and help turn these challenges into opportunities.


He urged the need to improve coordination between the Foreign Office and other relevant state institutions and the quality of interface with the private sector.


He said that the expatriate Pakistani community, a great asset, must be creatively enlisted with a view to promoting investment in Pakistan.


He said that the Foreign Office should act as a catalyst in forging win-win partnerships at home and abroad.  


He stated that he would like to continue such interactions and directed that regional envoys conferences be organized for better coordination and coherence of efforts.


Prime Minister Gilani said that with the advent of full democracy in the country our foreign policy must truly reflect the aspirations and interests of the people of Pakistan.


He said that it was time to raise Pakistan's profile as a responsible and progressive member of the international community. He commended the role of the Foreign Ministry and stressed the need to strengthen professional competence of the officers of the Foreign Service.


Foreign Minister Qureshi, on behalf of the Foreign Service of Pakistan, felicitated Asif Ali Zardari on assuming the coveted office of the President of Pakistan.


He said that this represented the culmination of a long and arduous struggle of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the sacrifices of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.


The Foreign Minister said the Pakistan's foreign policy was shaped and underpinned by national security concerns and well-being of the people of Pakistan.


"Within these parameters, our primary objective is to safeguard the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, promote political, economic and trade relations with other countries, and project a positive image of the country in the international community", he added.


Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday advised the President to accept the resignations of PML-N Federal Ministers after the ruling PPP failed to convince party leadership to rejoin the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday.


Informed sources revealed to TheNation that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani conveyed the decision to the PML-N Senior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan in a telephonic conversation.


Amongst the nine Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Ministers who had quit the Cabinet to protest the PPP failure in reinstatement of the deposed judges are Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Khwaja Asif, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Tehmina Daultana, Mehtab Khan Abbasi and Khwaja Saad Rafique.


Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had the portfolio of Senior Minister with charge of Communications and Food and Agriculture, Ishaq Dar (Finance), Khwaja Asif (Petroleum and Natural Resources and Sports), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (Trade), Rana Tanvir Hussain (Defence Production), Ahsan Iqbal (Education and Minority aAfairs), Tehmina Daultana (Women's Welfare Development and Culture), Mehtab Abbasi (Railways), and Saad Rafique (Youth Affairs and Science and Technology).


The decision to accept the resignations was taken during one-on-one meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held on Wednesday.


Informed sources said that the PM regretted and conveyed to Ch Nisar that they still wished the PML-N would rejoin the coalition but also respected their principal stand.


The move has paved the way for the PPP to expand the Federal Cabinet by inducting new ministers from the PPP and MQM.


PPI adds: Prime Minister Gilani has invited President Asif Ali Zardari to address joint sitting of Parliament to elaborate the policies and future plans of the government.


Gilani invited the President during meeting he had along with his cabinet members at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday.


President Zardari is expected to address the parliament on September 19 and would give guidelines to the government on its future course of action besides highlighting policies on various issues.