July 29, 2021: In a meeting between FM Shah Mahmood and the Bahraini foreign minister, on Thursday, Bahrain and Pakistan agreed to broaden and deepen bilateral engagement in a number of areas.

During a meeting between FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Bahraini counterpart Dr. Abdul Fattah bin Rashid Al Zayani on the sidelines of the second meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission of Pakistan (JMC) in Manama, a consensus was reached.

Later, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi also met with Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa in Manama, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The press release said that during the meeting with Minister Zayani, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi discussed in detail the whole impasse of bilateral relations and discussed issues of mutual interest on regional and international issues.

The two sides agreed to continue to work closely to further strengthen bilateral relations in all fields, with a special focus on trade, investment, energy and culture, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

“Recalling the traditionally close and fraternal bilateral ties, rooted deep in common faith and shared values, Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored the need to explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen the bilateral relations,” the MoFA stated.

FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi highlighted the shift of the current government’s focus from geopolitics to geoeconomics, with an emphasis on building development partnerships and regional connectivity.

Highlighting the human rights situation in the IOJK, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi also reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Councils and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi also briefed his Bahraini counterpart on the emerging situation in Afghanistan and highlighted Pakistan’s full efforts for a comprehensive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

“Foreign Minister Qureshi lauded the positive role of Pakistani expatriates in deepening relations between the two countries and also discussed issues related to the welfare of Pakistani expatriates in Bahrain,” the statement added. ”

The MOFa added that the Bahraini Foreign Minister warmly welcomed FM Qureshi and expressed the Bahraini government’s desire to further enhance bilateral relations. “He also praised the role and contribution of the Pakistani diaspora community in Bahrain’s development and economic growth,” the statement added.

During the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the country, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi reaffirmed his commitment to further expand relations in all fields and highlighted the close and fraternal ties between the two countries that share common beliefs, common history and people-to-people contacts.

The Foreign Minister thanked Bahrain for its cooperation on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and other issues at the international level. He also praised the Navy’s support during the Covid 19 pandemic, according to the MOFA.

The Foreign Ministry statement further said that FM Qureshi emphasized the importance of enhancing economic, trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for economic security, which focuses on three pillars of partnership development and mutual cooperation.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on the human rights situation in the Indian-occupied Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) and the emerging situation in Afghanistan.

FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi also highlighted Pakistan’s support for efforts for a comprehensive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan.