DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 12 – We meet today to mark an historic occasion, when our Afghan brethren take a major step forward in their long quest for peace. Indeed, a long phase of tribulations seems ending.  A new dawn is upon us.

This journey has not been easy. There have been obstacles and setbacks; moments of doubt and despair.

Yet, progress has been made, and preserved.

Arriving at this inflection point has been an accomplishment, and this success belongs, first and foremost, to the Afghans.

Pakistan has walked along-side you in every possible way, by encouraging reduction in violence and by urging dialogue and negotiations.

Pakistan has fully facilitated the process that culminated in the U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement in Doha on 29 February 2020 and has reached this juncture.

Commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, today, is the fruit of our combined efforts.

Pakistan and Prime Minister Imran Khan has long maintained that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. Political solution is the only way forward.

We are gratified that our perspective is now widely shared across the international community.

We are also gratified that we have fulfilled our part of the responsibility.

It is now for the Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity, work together constructively, and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

The forthcoming negotiations are for the Afghans to decide about their future. The Afghans alone must be the masters of their destiny, without outside influence or interference.

Spoilers, from within and from without, will pose formidable challenges. Constant vigilance will be required to guard against their machinations.

We hope all sides will honour their respective commitments, persevere in the face of all challenges and setbacks, and remain unflinchingly committed to achieving a positive outcome.

Besides Afghanistan, Pakistan is the country that has suffered the most from the Afghan conflict.

Over the past 40 years, we have endured terrorist attacks, loss of precious lives, mass population displacements, instability at the borders, and huge economic costs.

But we have persevered in the face of all difficulties and negativity.

Our citizens and law enforcement personnel have rendered invaluable sacrifices. Our leadership has decisively demonstrated that Pakistan will only be a partner for peace.

At this historic juncture, it is imperative that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. The Afghan people must not be abandoned, as happened before. The progress achieved must not be frittered away.

A peaceful and stable Afghanistan will bring new opportunities for the progress and prosperity of the Afghan people. It will also open new vistas of cooperation and connectivity in the region and beyond.

I suggest a four-pronged way forward. We call upon the international community and all concerned:

1. To continue to support the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process while respecting the consensus that emerges from Intra-Afghan Negotiations.
2. To ensure that Afghanistan neither witnesses the violent days of the past nor becomes a space for elements who would harm others beyond its borders.
3. To deepen and sustain economic engagement with Afghanistan for its reconstruction and economic development.
4. To ensure a well-resourced, time-bound return of Afghan refugees to their homeland with dignity and honour.

At this moment of hope, I reassure our Afghan brethren that Pakistan will always be in full support and solidarity with them as they continue their momentous journey on the path of peace, security and development.

Pakistan will always support a peaceful, stable, united, democratic, prosperous and sovereign Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours.

DNA

Islamabad, SEPT 12 – Turkey’s digital airline, Pegasus, continues to expand its international network with the launch of its new Karachi – Istanbul SabihaGökçen flights, connecting Karachi, Pakistan to Istanbul, Turkey. Pegasus’ Karachi – Istanbul SabihaGökçen flights will commence on 25 September 2020.

Flights from Istanbul SabihaGökçen Airport to Quaid-E-Azam International Airport will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 20:35; whilst flights fromQuaid-E-Azam International Airport to Istanbul SabihaGökçen Airport will depart every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 04:55 (local times apply).

Pegasus Airlines will connect guests from Karachi to its destinations in Manchester, London, Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Cologne, Brussels, Kyiv, Bucharest, Kharkiv, Moscow, Stuttgart, Geneva, Barcelona, Marseille, Zaporizhia and Prague, via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, with flights now on sale from $309.99.

Pegasus Airlines was founded in 1990 with the mission that everyone has the right to fly. Since launching its scheduled services in 2005, Pegasus Airlines has become Turkey’s first and leading low-cost airline and one of the region’s aviation frontrunners with a growing network across Europe, Russia and the Caucasus, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Pegasus Airlines launched its first charter flights in 1990 and was then acquired by ESAS Holding in 2005, since then it has been operating scheduled flights, offering guests competitively priced, comfortable and punctual point-to-point and transit flights operated with the newest aircraft under the auspices of its low-cost model.

‘Pegasus Airlines is warmly welcomed by Gerry’s Group in Pakistan as their local partners.

Turkey and Pakistan have strong cultural history along with the ever-improving economic ties. Pegasus Airlines as a new entrant will further strengthen ties between the two countries.’

Gerry’s has the distinction of being one of the largest aviation groups in Pakistan. With 57 years of success and over 4000 employees in 200+ locations worldwide, Gerry’s Group has a diversified scope of business. Its portfolio stretches over as General Sales Agents for International Airlines, Air Freight, Airport Ground Handling, Telecommunications, Visa Processing, Travel & Holiday, Air Express, Freight & Logistics, Food & Beverage, Information Technology and Real Estate.

DNA

Islamabad, SEPT 11 –  Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani has said that Pakistan and China have exponentially enhanced cooperation on a number of fronts and such cooperation is reflective of strong ties and linkages at both government and parliamentary levels.

He expressed these views at a reception hosted in honor of the outgoing Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing here at Islamabad on Friday.

He said that augmenting relations with China is the cornerstone of our foreign policy, and our friendship with China represents national consensus and the common desire of all Pakistani people.

“We support and commend President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims at enhancing regional and international connectivity”, Chairman Senate remarked. He further added that this vision resonates with Pakistan’s own resolve and commitment to promote peace, development and prosperity through cooperation, inclusivity and mutual respect.

Chinese Ambassador presented 3rd volume of “The Governance of China” to the Chairman Senate.  The book is a compilation of speeches of Chinese President Xi Jinpig.

Chairman Senate expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Yao Jing for this wonderful gesture of presenting the 3rd Volume of “The Governance of China” to the Senate of Pakistan.  He also congratulated President Xi Jinping, for documenting another volume of his highly revered collection of speeches and writings on the subject.

Chairman Senate expressed his confidence that Pakistan and China will continue to explore numerous avenues of further cooperation.

He said that Pakistan and China have a shared vision of regional prosperity and cooperation between the two reflects trust and confidence.  He underlined the need for more linkages at different levels for the benefit of the people of two sides.  He also expressed his well wishes to the outgoing Ambassador.

 Speaking on the occasion Chinese Ambassador said that Pakistan and China are peace loving counties. Both the countries also love their integrity and sovereignty.

We have stood together through thick and thin.

We work together for international justice and  collective regional development and connectivity.

We are together on principal stance of Kashmir cause .

It is an emotional moment as Pakistan has not been part of my job but also my life.

DNA

The international video conference “China – Pakistan Economic Corridor and Central Asia: Emerging connectivity opportunities” was held With  the participation of leaders and experts from analytical and research centers from China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

According to the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS), during the online dialogue, an exchange of views took place on the current situation in the Central and South Asia, the implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the China – Pakistan Economic Corridor, and other projects designed to strengthen the connectivity of the region’s countries.

Speaking at the conference, head of the ISMI Department Sadullo Rasulov noted Tashkent’s interest in implementing energy and transport and logistics projects that can ensure the formation of a network of sustainable strategic communications between the regions of Central and South Asia.

In this regard, S.Rasulov recalled that Uzbekistan has forwarded a number of initiatives aimed at increasing connectivity in Central Asia. Among them, an important role is assigned to the construction of Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan – China railway, which is designed to unlock the transport potential of the region and form China – Central Asia – Western Asia economic corridor.

The importance of this road lies in the fact that it is the shortest route from China to the European and the Middle East countries. Compared to the existing routes, the distance will be reduced by 900 km, and the delivery time will be reduced by 7-8 days.

Uzbekistan is also promoting a number of projects that will connect Central Asia by the shortest route through Afghanistan with Pakistan and the Middle East, provide an opportunity for the states of South Asia and the Middle East to enter the CIS and Europe markets.

The first is the construction of Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railway with access to Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports. The second is the construction of Mazar-i-Sharif – Herat – Qandahar railway with access to Iran’s Chabahar port.

The ISRS expert pointed to the prospect of a possible conjugation of the corridor to Peshawar with flagship project “Belt and Road” – “China – Pakistan Economic Corridor”. Taking into account the infrastructure development in Gwadar, this port will have every reason to become a key regional hub.

He emphasized that Uzbekistan supports the implementation of such energy projects as TAPI, CASA-1000, and PTL-500 Surkhon – Puli-Khumri, not limited to laying transport corridors.

According to him, transport communications and a unified energy infrastructure solve not only the problems of connectivity. They also serve to create new jobs, stimulate trade, motivate development, and thereby form the necessary socio-economic basis for the process of political settlement of the crisis in Afghanistan.

In addition, the region’s economic development programs will serve as a key factor in building consensus among regional countries on the need for early achievement of long-term and sustainable peace in this long-suffering country.

Other participants of the virtual discussion also supported this view. Huseyin Bоtsali, OIC’s Permanent Representative in Afghanistan, noted that the Afghan crisis is one of the main barriers to strengthening connectivity in Central and South Asia. At the same time, he highly appreciated the efforts of Uzbekistan aimed at involving Afghanistan in trade-economic relations in Central Asia through the implementation of transport and energy projects.

According to him, the Government of Afghanistan has intensified negotiations with China and Pakistan on the development of cooperation within the framework of China – Pakistan Economic Corridor. Kabul also expresses interest in establishing cooperation with Central Asian countries bоth within the framework of Belt and Road and in a bilateral format.

Huseyin Bоtsali believes that more active involvement of Afghanistan in the regional process in Central and South Asia will serve to maintain long-term stability in this country.

The videoconference showed the interest of Central and South Asian countries, as well as China in further deepening connectivity.