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ANKARA: Pakistan and Iraq today (Thursday) agreed to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship including through increased high-level interaction.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with his Iraqi counterpart Dr. Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. Talking to his Iraqi counterpart, FM Qureshi underscored Pakistan’s consistent efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the Afghan parties would realize the opportunity and workout an inclusive politically negotiated settlement.
FM Qureshi also highlighted the importance of liberalizing the visa regime for facilitating Pakistani Zaireen visiting the religious sites in Iraq. Both Foreign Ministers also exchanged best practices in promoting religious tourism.
He reiterated the invitation to his Iraqi counterpart to visit Pakistan. Iraq’s foreign minister said that he looked forward to visiting Pakistan in August 2021 to further cement the bilateral relations.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Turkey to participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The foreign minister was received by the Deputy Governor of Antalya, Pakistan’s ambassador Cyrus Qazi and senior officials of Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Qureshi will participate in a panel discussion on ‘Regional Cooperation in Asia’ along with other foreign ministers from the region and highlight Pakistan’s vision for regional cooperation, economic development and connectivity, according to the Foreign Office statement issued on Thursday.
Antalya Diplomacy Forum will feature high-level participation of political leaders, diplomats, thinkers, and academia for discussion on important thematic and international issues. The theme of the Forum is ‘Innovative Diplomacy: New Era, New Approaches’.
