Pak-US relations decline created problems for both, Bilawal

Pakistan’s interest is preference, we want good relations with neighboring countries, Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that their preference was the interest of Pakistan.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad Bilawal said that the challenges were different in the past but still there are many challenges.

Bilawal said that the decline in relations between Pakistan and United States created problems for both countries. He said that good relations with neighbouring countries are best for the country. The United States is Pakistan’s long-standing partner in cooperation in various fields. Pakistan wants an equal relationship with the United States. He said that due to the lack of Pak-US relations, problems arose between the two countries.

He said that when he had taken over as FM there were many challenges and similar relations with all countries will have to be maintained. He said that Pakistan was affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Bilawal added that he had, first of all, met the Chinese Foreign Minister immediately after he was nominated as Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He said that China has helped Pakistan in a difficult time and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a vital part of Pakistan’s development.

He also said that many difficulties and hurdles have been crossed successfully and Pakistan’s Foreign Policy has strengthened under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said that Foreign Minister has no role in the army chief appointment.

He further said that there was still a need to take steps in light of the proceedings of the past six months. The government has saved Pakistan from default.

Criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan he said that he has welcomed the new U-turn of Imran. He further added that neither there was any US conspiracy today nor was before.

He said that hard work was being done to improve Foreign Policy. Pakistan has passed many difficult times. He said that Pakistan successfully exited from the grey list of the Financial Actions Task Force (FATF). Pakistan was the only country that had successfully implemented two action plans.

Bilawal said that Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was martyred and military operations were carried out in many areas including North Waziristan. He said that the country faced terrorism for a long time and even the nation had to face the APS incidents.

He said that it was sad that terrorism has surged during the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Talking about floods he said that there has been a lot of damage in floods, especially in Sindh has been affected severely. He said that more than 47 percent of schools have been destroyed in Sindh.