PM Kakar warns of trans-regional spillover of Gaza war
Pakistan
Calls for immediate cessation of violence, labels Israeli assault on Gaza genocide
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday called for enhanced engagement with the Western capitals to make Israel realise that the Gaza war could trigger a spillover effect beyond the region.
In an interview with Arab News, the prime minister said Western capitals, particularly Washington and London needed to make realise the Israeli side that they were contributing to destabilise the region.
He called for an immediate cessation of violence and labeled Israel's assault on Gaza genocide, clearly. The prime minister said he would attend an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Sunday in Riyadh to discuss Israel’s attacks on Palestine.
PM Kakar said Israel could not just kill children and say that it had got the right to defend itself. The prime minister said it was the licence to barbaric retaliation. He said the entire Muslim nation should think over about its contribution in science and technology and defence.
The prime minister also criticised governance structures in Muslim nations, saying their challenges were deeper than the mere quagmire of the Palestinian situation.
PM STRESSES REFORMS, ACTIONS TO REALIZE ECO OBJECTIVE FOR ECONOMIC, PEACE DIVIDENDS
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kakar on Thursday reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to ECO Vision 2025, called for collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the Organisation’s objectives and region’s trade potential for bringing “colossal” economic and peace dividends. “Let us make ECO an organisation not just of words, but actions, not just commitments but implementation.
It is crucial for us to work collectively and diligently to realise the goals and objectives of the Organisation… Our region, if well connected, can bring colossal economic and peace dividends for our people,” the prime minister said addressing the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) here.
Constructive interaction with President @presidentaz of Azerbaijan on sidelines of #ECOSummit2023. Our trade, defence, and energy ties are growing. The launch of direct AZAL flights will bolster our connectivity. Together, we address global issues like Islamophobia and climate… pic.twitter.com/0yFsz7qjEd
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) November 9, 2023
Kakar will present Pakistan's vision for the future work of the organization and promotion of regional connectivity and mutual prosperity. The Prime Minister will attend the reception hosted in honor of the leaders of the ECO countries.
The prime minister’s address encompassed an array of issues including the ECO’s existing trade and true potential, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Islamophobia as well as the ECO projects of regional connectivity.
He said being blessed with natural resources, geographical linkages and cultural heritage, ECO region had been unable to exploit its true trade potential as it had just two percent share in global trade and eight percent in intraregional trade.
He said in 2022, the trade within the ECO region was recorded at $39 billion against $577 billion with the world and the intraregion exports also stood at $46 billion.
He said the ECO Vision 2025, which was adopted by the 13th ECO summit in Islamabad had called for increasing regional trade, strengthening connectivity, operationalising major transport corridors and seeking energy security.
Calling for deliberations to expand share in the global and intra-region trade, he emphasised reducing barriers, developing infrastructure, and formulating environment-friendly and sustainable policies besides reducing poverty.
Prime Minister Kakar supported the ECO’s corridor-based approach like Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI), Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul” (ITI), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran (KTI) and others and said the integrated transport projects would help promote trade and connectivity.
