ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday said the conflicts and wars would benefit no one as people became its major victims, and called for unity to maintain peace and stability in the region.
“Conflicts and wars will benefit no one. I repeat, conflicts and wars will benefit no one. The people, mainly women and children always become the most impacted ones in conflicts and wars,” President Joko Widodo said addressing the Joint-Sitting of the Parliament in Islamabad.
President Widodo was on his first visit to Pakistan along with a delegation comprising ministers and the businessmen.
The session was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, three services chiefs besides the parliamentarians.
In his address, the Indonesian president said democracy provided space for people in decision-making process, helped maintain political stability and achieve growth.
Joko Widodo said economy of a Country or a region could grow if there was political stability and security. He said economic activities would never take place if there was conflict or war. He said conflicts and wars benefited no one and people mainly women and children became most impacted in such situations.
Referring to the challenges of terrorism, Joko Widodo said no Country of the world was immune to it. He said incidents of terrorism were taking place in almost all Countries including Indonesia and Pakistan.
Joko Widodo said Muslims were in largest number the victim of terrorism. He pointed out that 76 percent of terrorist attacks took place in Muslim Countries, 60 percent of armed conflicts happened in Muslim Countries and 67 percent refugees came from Muslim countries.
The Indonesian president said weapons and military power would never conflicts in the world and arms race would continue to create tension. He emphasized the need to resolve conflict through dialogue.
President Joko Widodo was the second President of Indonesia to address the Joint Sitting of the Parliament as the first Indonesian President Dr Ahmed Soekarno had addressed the National Assembly of Pakistan on June 26, 1963.
President Widodo was the 17th foreign dignitary to address the National Assembly and Senate’s Joint-Sitting. The others who addressed the sitting included leaders from Iran, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Palestine, France, China, Britain, Turkey.
