(Pakistan keen to play role of bridge between world powers: FM)

ISLAMABAD:Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to play a role of bridge between world powers, not a divider.

Addressing the 49th Foundation Day of the Institute of Strategic Studies here in Islamabad on Thursday, he said Pakistan has an important geographic location and it has the potential to mitigate the conflict between world powers as it did in past between the United States and China.

He said, because of its geostrategic locations, Pakistan’s foreign policy is far more affected due to global geopolitics and Pakistan should turn these challenges into opportunities. He said the government is committed to pursue a humble foreign policy without compromising on the national interests.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said economic engagement gives the countries important leverage to impact policies of each other which can also lead to the better mutual understanding of conflicting issues. He said the government is working under incredibly difficult circumstance with the sole objective to benefit the people of Pakistan.

The Foreign Minister also condemned the change in the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir terming it as an assault on the right of people of Kashmir and rising trends of Islamophobia in India under BJP led Modi regime.