Pakistan, Latvia identify areas for future cooperation

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP):Pakistan and Latvia have undertaken a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and also identified areas for future cooperation in the 5th round of Bilateral Political Consultations held between both the countries.
According to Foreign Ministry press release issued here on Wednesday, the 5th round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Latvia was held in Riga in which Additional Secretary (Europe) Ambassador Zaheer A. Janjua and Ambassador Janis Mazeiks, Under Secretary of State and Political Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, led their respective delegations.
Both sides identified areas for future cooperation in political, economic, trade, investment, education and cultural fields.
The Additional Secretary briefed on the political and economic developments in Pakistan, including the strengthening of democracy, emerging economy and future prospects of growth as well as government’s people- centric agenda and efforts aimed at establishing rule of law, good governance, justice and accountability.
He invited Latvian companies to benefit from Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies.
He also briefed the Latvian side on the situation in South Asia, notably the Indian aggression and Pakistan’s measured response as well as steps in support of peace and stability.
He added that Pakistan had consistently worked for military de-escalation, diffusion of tensions, and resumption of dialogue with India to peacefully resolve all outstanding disputes.
In the context of deteriorating situation and gross violations of human rights in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, he urged the Latvian side to take cognizance of these abuses, documented extensively by international organizations, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He also apprised the Latvian side of Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the ongoing talks for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Reiterating that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, he emphasized that a politically-negotiated settlement, led and owned by the Afghans, was the only sustainable way forward.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the level of cooperation at the international fora, including the UN and the European Union, and agreed to continue supporting each other.
The next round of Pakistan-Latvia Bilateral Political Consultations would be held in Islamabad on mutually-convenient dates.