Pakistan wants to engage with neighbours on basis of peace, equality: Qureshi speaks at UNGA

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while representing Pakistan at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said Pakistan wanted to engage with "all countries and neighbours on the basis of peace and equality”.

The foreign minister addressed the audience in the national language, Urdu.

"I address you today as the representative of a country moving towards prosperity and development," Qureshi said at the start of his speech.

The foreign minister said, "Today the world is at crossroads as protectionism, populism and isolationism are gaining currency. New forms and manifestations of imperialism are appearing, and dark clouds of trade wars are looming large."

"In these uncertain times, the global community seems desperate for leadership," said Qureshi, adding that Pakistan will continue to "collaborate on the platforms of United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to reverse the tide of bigotry".

"Pakistan stands ready to strengthen its partnership with UN's family of institutions," he asserted.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan wants to engage with "all countries and neighbours on the basis of peace and equality”.

“The horrors of terrorism can only be rectified by immediate rehabilitation progress,” he said, adding that the UN Sustainable Development Goals must be ensured on immediate bases.

The foreign minister extended condolences over the passing of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, and also expressed sympathy with the government and the people of Indonesia for the damage caused by recent earthquakes and tsunami.

Qureshi is expected to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday.

Giving an interview to Al-Jazeera television earlier this week, Qureshi said the new government had inherited strained relations with two key countries — India and the United States — and was working to improve ties with both.

Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s July 26 peace offer to India, Qureshi said that seeking a constructive dialogue with India was a key component of the new government’s policies.

“What we did…we thought made sense. Two neighbours with outstanding issues, atomic powers. How do you fix things? War is no option. There is no military solution: the only solution is a dialogue,” he had emphasised.