High Commissioner meets with APPG on Pakistan

H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK met with All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pakistan at the British Parliament today. Rehman Chishti MP, Chairman of the APPG on Pakistan organized the meeting. A wide range of issues of common interest to the two countries were discussed in detail.

Briefing the APPG members on Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism, the High Commissioner said Pakistan rendered more sacrifices in fight against terrorism than any other country in the world. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism till the end. However, the High Commissioner said terrorism is a global phenomenon and, therefore, needs a global response. The APPG members appreciated Pakistan’s important role in fighting terrorism and acknowledged its sacrifices.

The High Commissioner apprised the British Parliamentarians of serious human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), and called upon the APPG members to play their role to end the sufferings of the Kashmiri people. He also called upon the British government for similar support to the people of Kashmir. The High Commissioner reiterated Pakistan’s political, diplomatic and moral support for the rightful cause of the Kashmiris.

The High Commissioner expressed his desire to organize a cross-party parliamentary delegation from the UK to Pakistan in near future. The APPG members welcomed the proposal put forward by the High Commissioner.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory in bilateral trade. However, they underlined that there was still great scope to further expand the bilateral trade volume by exploring new areas of cooperation.

Among others who attended the meeting included: Rehman Chishti MP, Chairman APPG; Lord David Alton; Lord Qurban Hussain; Baroness Zahida Manzoor; Ms Cooper MP; Yasmin Qureshi MP; Imran Hussain MP; Naz Shah MP; Afzal Khan MP; Faisal Rashi MP and Tony Lloyd MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP.

A delegation of the visiting parliamentarians from Pakistan comprising Senator Daud Achakzai; Senator Baz Muhammad Khan, and Maeza Hameed MNA also attended the meeting.

Both sides agreed to work together to further strengthen bilateral ties.