New York: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan wants long-lasting and fruitful relations with the US, but these relations should not be seen in comparison with our strategic partnership with China.
Addressing the Pakistani-origin community in New York, he said that the behavior of the previous US government disappointed Pakistan, but the current US administration is re-engaging in the process of dialogue with Pakistan, which is welcome.
Ishaq Dar said that after a long gap of 9 years, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and the US have met, while global and regional issues were discussed with US Senator Marco Rubio.
He harshly criticized India and said, “Pakistan is a peace-loving country, but we have always given a befitting reply to aggression. We have shot down Indian Rafale jets, closed the airspace, and exposed Indian propaganda before the world.”
He further said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered an international investigation into the Pulwama attack, but India has so far been in a state of panic instead of responding.
Talking about the economic situation, Ishaq Dar said, “We saved the country from bankruptcy. Today the economy is stabilizing, foreign exchange reserves are increasing, and international financial institutions are appreciating our performance.”
He said that if the previous government (PTI) had remained in power for another six months, Pakistan would have defaulted.
On the issue of Aafia Siddiqui, Ishaq Dar said, “Aafia is the daughter of Pakistan. We have made every possible effort at the diplomatic, legal and international levels for her release.”
Ishaq Dar also said that Pakistan is currently chairing the United Nations Security Council, which is a major achievement in Pakistan’s global diplomacy.
