ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Saturday evening left for India to attend the two-day Heart of Asia Conference being held in Amritsar on December 3 and 4.
Sartaj Aziz was scheduled to leave Pakistan on Sunday; however, he left on Saturday evening via a special plane.
It is expected that Sartaj Aziz will have a brief meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a dinner hosted by the Indian Punjab government.
With the theme ‘Addressing Challenges, Achieving Prosperity’, the two-day Heart of Asia Conference began in Amritsar today to discuss peace, cooperation and economic development in Afghanistan.
Earlier today the Senior Officials of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process began negotiation to discuss and finalize the text for the 6th Ministerial Conference to be held on Sunday. The meeting covered all the necessary technical aspects of the declaration for the 6th Ministerial Conference.
The senior officials of 14 countries that are immediate and extended neighbours of Afghanistan and representatives of 17 supporting nations deliberated on a number of issues facing the region. Issues like enhancing Afghanistan’s connectivity with South and Central Asian countries to boost trade were being discussed at the Senior Officials’ Meeting.
In the 6th Ministerial Conference, delegates from nearly 40 countries will participate whereas Sartaj Aziz will represent Pakistan at the Conference.
In a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on December 1, the Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan would attend the Heart of Asia Conference due to its commitment to Afghanistan’s peace and stability.
“Every country has its own share of bringing stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s participation means its commitment for peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Zakaria said.
