Pakistan & Bosnia Herzegovina Ink Accords on Illegal Migrants & Scientific Cooperation
Image Credits: Associated Press of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Nov 4 (APP): Pakistan and Bosnia & Herzegovina on Wednesday inked two accords of cooperation including an Agreement on readmission of illegal Pakistani migrants and a Memorandum of Understanding on scientific cooperation.
Under the Agreement, a large number of illegal migrants from Pakistanis currently in Bosnia & Herzegovina, through the readmission process, will be returned and accepted by their country of origin. Prime Minister Imran Khan and visiting Chairman of Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic witnessed the signing ceremony, held here at the PM House.
The Agreement between the Government of Pakistan and Council of Minister of Bosnia & Herzegovina on streamlining the protocols of re-admission of illegal Pakistanis, was signed by Interior Minister Brigadier (R) Ijaz Ahmed Shah and Bosnian Minister for Security Selmo Cikotic.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Council of Ministers of Bosnia & Herzegovina in the field of scientific cooperation, was inked by Federal Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Bosnian Minister for Security Selmo Cikotic.
Later, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Bosnian leader, speaking to the media, termed the signing of accords as a milestone in achieving new heights of bilateral cooperation. Welcoming the Chairman of Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Prime Minister said the people of Bosnia had a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis since 90s after Bosnia underwent a tragic war. He expressed confidence that the high-level visit, would translate the existing trade ties into more meaningful relations, hoping to enhance the current level of 4.5 million euro.
The two leaders expressed their strong support for the cause of Kashmir where the people faced oppression and voiced serious concerns over the growing trend of Islamophobia across the world. Sefik Dzaferovic said Pakistan and Bosnia & Herzegovina could explore opportunities in areas of agriculture, trade and diplomatic cooperation for the benefit of their peoples. He thanked Pakistan for always being on its side, especially during the war and also for sending peace-keeping troops to the conflict-hit region.
He mentioned that Bosnia & Herzegovina also reciprocated the humanitarian gesture by sending its doctors to the earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan in 2005. He said Bosnia & Herzegovina took a firm stance on the human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and also issued a statement in support of the people of Kashmir. He stressed for resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and in light of the Human Rights Conventions.
The two leaders condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Austria and elsewhere in the world, saying that terrorism could not be accepted in any form. However, they agreed to the notion that freedom of speech did not mean to hurt the religious sentiments of people, particularly Muslims. Imran Khan warned the world that unless the hate speech was controlled, the cycle of violence would continue and urged urgent steps by the governments to check the situation. He said the European countries must realize that any inappropriate portrayal of personality of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) caused greatest pain to Muslims across the world, and therefore, the freedom of speech must not be used as a tool for desecration.
Sefik Dzaferovic said the world needs to “build bridges” rather than developing confrontation on the basis of religious differences. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Minister-in-waiting Zartaj Gul and senior officials were present.
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