By IRNA,
Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday told the Islamabad-based African envoys that Pakistan recognizes the African demand for equal rights and to redress historic injustices, the President office said.
“Pakistan supports the African countries seeking to promote equal and non-discriminatory approach for all regional groups with regard to representation on the Council,” Zardrai said during his interaction with the ambassadors and high commissioners belonging to eleven African countries.
The envoys were invited to Presidency for a meeting to consider ways and means of further bolstering relations with the African countries, a statement from the Presidency said.
The President during the meeting suggested creation of a small caucus representing the African embassies in Islamabad and relevant officers of the ministries for suggesting ways and means to move forward on further improving trade and commercial ties.
The President highlighted the active participation of the Pak armed forces in peacekeeping activities in the conflict zones and mentioned their participation in peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Republic of Chad, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Brundi, Sudan and Western Sahara. Pakistan is the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping in the world and at present 10,733 Pakistani troops are involved in peacekeeping missions in African countries, the President noted.
The President said that African countries can greatly benefit from Pakistan’s experience and expertise in the fields of infrastructure development, agriculture, banking and information technology.
The President said that the threat of extremism and militancy was endangering the peace of the entire world and we needed to pool our resources to neutralize this threat. He said that Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its manifestations and modes and joined the international community in fighting the menace.
The Ambassadors and the High Commissioners thanked the President for meeting them and assured that they would continue working for enhancing and strengthening of the multifaceted bilateral relations of their respective countries with Pakistan, the statement said.