Speaking in the context of the economic vortex facing is Pakistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in an interview to CNBC that Pakistan is facing a “perfect storm”, saying the floods last year left the country in an extremely difficult way as far as our economy is concerned.
He said the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are ongoing and the economic climate is tough. To make matters worse, he said the country is facing a fresh wave of terrorism. Since the fall of Kabul, he said we have seen a steady uptick in terrorist activity. Responding to the interviewer’s question about Defence Minister Khawaja Asif saying that Pakistan is not on the path to bankruptcy but is bankrupt, the foreign minister said that his colleague was talking in a political context at a political gathering and that he was referring to the harsh economic times the country is experiencing at the moment. “He was not speaking technically,” he stated.
Answering a question about the perception that Pakistan’s military is the final decision maker in what happens in the country, Bilawal said that at the moment the country is in a period of transition and it could either way. It could mean a success and strengthening of democratic forces or it could mean the success and strengthening of unconstitutional and undemocratic forces.
Bilawal is in Germany for Munich Security Conference. On Sunday he met his counterpart from Norway Anniken Huitfeldt as both agreed to work together to stop the rising incidents of ‘Islamophobia’ in the world. During the meeting held on the sidelines of the Conference, foreign ministers of respective countries reiterated the desire to further strengthen bilateral relations. Bilawal also met Foreign Minister of Kosovo Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz and they concurred to hold the second round of bilateral political consultations.
Pakistan and Kosovo had longstanding and historic ties, he remarked during the meeting. They exchanged views on enhancing relations in the fields of tourism, health, education, trade and manpower. The Pakistani foreign minister also met with Vice President of the European Union Council Josep Borrell. Bilawal said that Islamabad highly valued its ties with the European Union as they agreed to expand the multidimensional relations between Pakistan and EU. Moreover, they discussed different regional and international issues of mutual concern.
