Gilani welcomes Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stresses closer coordination to advance Pakistan’s diplomacy
Liaquat Ali
Islamabad: Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Thursday held a meeting with Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at Parliament House, focusing on strengthening coordination between Pakistan’s diplomatic and parliamentary channels to advance the country’s foreign policy priorities and expand international partnerships.
Gilani welcomed Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on assuming charge as Foreign Secretary and expressed confidence that his diplomatic experience and professional expertise would contribute to promoting Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives, protecting national interests and further strengthening the country’s engagement with the international community.
The meeting highlighted the importance of aligning parliamentary diplomacy with the Foreign Office’s diplomatic initiatives to build stronger bilateral relations, enhance institutional cooperation and project Pakistan’s perspectives on regional and global developments.
The Senate chairman emphasised that sustained diplomatic engagement, constructive dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation remained essential to strengthening Pakistan’s relations with countries across the world. He noted that parliamentary diplomacy complemented conventional diplomatic channels by fostering political understanding, developing institutional linkages and creating additional opportunities for international cooperation.
Referring to his recent bilateral visits and participation in the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tanzania, Gilani highlighted the role of parliamentary exchanges in strengthening bilateral ties, facilitating dialogue and promoting cooperation on issues of regional and international importance.
He also underscored Pakistan’s contribution to international parliamentary engagement through his role as founding chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC), which seeks to promote dialogue and cooperation among parliamentary leaders from different countries.
Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad thanked the Senate chairman for the warm welcome and acknowledged his efforts to project Pakistan’s positive image internationally through parliamentary diplomacy and sustained engagement with counterparts around the world.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of close coordination between the Foreign Office and the Senate in complementing Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, deepening international partnerships and advancing the country’s position on matters of regional and global significance.
The engagement also reflected the importance attached to a coordinated national approach to foreign relations, bringing together formal diplomacy and parliamentary engagement to broaden Pakistan’s international outreach.
Member of the National Assembly Abdul Qadir Gilani, Senate Secretary Syed Hasnain Haider and Advisor to the Senate Chairman and Ambassador to the ISC Misbah Khar also attended the meeting.