ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan will co-host the two-day Heart of Asia Conference, scheduled to be held in Islamabad from December 9.
In his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Tuesday, the Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that theme of the ministerial level Conference is ‘Istanbul Process – enhanced cooperation in countering security threat and promoting connectivity in the heart of Asia’.
The spokesman said that according to the programme, the Conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Qazi Khalilullah said that said confirmation of the Afghan president’s visit to Pakistan is awaited. He said so far Foreign Ministers of China, Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan have confirmed their participation.
It is likely that the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj will also arrive in Islamabad next week to attend the Conference. However, according to foreign office, her participation is not confirmed yet.
The foreign office spokesman said that agenda of the Heart of Asia Conference is aimed at cementing regional ties. It also aimed at expanding cooperation among Afghanistan and regional partners in countering terrorism and elimination of poverty and extremism, he said.
The spokesman also reiterated that Pakistan wants result oriented dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir and promote bilateral relations.
Khalilullah said that they are waiting how to move forward after last Monday’s meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Paris on the sidelines of the Climate Change Summit.
“Talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi were good. Doors of dialogue should open,” Nawaz Sharif told journalists after his brief meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
