Africa Day today: Envoys encourage Indo-Pak talks

* Want greater economic cooperation between Pakistan and Africa

ISLAMABAD: African diplomats in Pakistan on Monday asked both the Pakistan and Indian leadership to continue efforts to resolve their disputes through peaceful means.

The appeal was made by the ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Pakistan from South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, Algeria, Mauritius, Tunisia, Liberia, and Eritrea, while they were addressing the press on the eve of Africa Day, which is celebrated today (Tuesday).

“A positive development for the people of the South Asian region is the establishment of a composite dialogue between the governments of India and Pakistan. It is hoped that the momentum established between the two nations in the course of normalising their bilateral relations will be further enhanced in the days to come,” said the South African High Commissioner to Pakistan Moosa Mulla while reading a statement on behalf of all the diplomats.

The African envoys expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts against global terrorism. “African envoys in Islamabad are greatly heartened and fully supportive of the efforts undertaken by the government of Pakistan to eliminate the menace and scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

They are convinced that with determined will, this evil can be eradicated not only in Pakistan but universally,” the South African high commissioner added. To a question, N Larbaoui, Algeria’s ambassador to Pakistan, maintained that his country suffered from the scourge of terrorism alone for a decade and no country paid head when Algeria called for global cooperation against terrorism.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, the 9/11 tragic incidents awakened the world conscience and a global fight against terrorism is now in progress,” he added. The African envoys said economic cooperation between Pakistan and the African continent was greatly needed.

One by one, they stressed the need for greater trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan.

To a question about the economic potential between Pakistan and Africa, Mr Mulla maintained that Pakistan could benefit significantly from the emerging markets in the African continent.

“Africa is home to 600 million people living in 53 countries and its is important for Pakistan to develop its relations in all spheres of economy. Today, Africa is alive and under the new economic development programme called the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, there are great opportunities for cooperation in areas of agriculture, infrastructure, environment, health and education,” he added. The Egyptian ambassador pointed out that Pakistan has made commendable progress in areas including textile, information technology and food security, in which Pakistan and African countries can enhance their cooperation. staff report

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