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Speaker Sadiq demands end to aggression, foreign occupation; endorses right to self-determination
ISLAMABAD/MOSCOW: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday said that terrorism and extremism were directly related to conflicts and disputes and called on the international community to pay urgent attention to address festering disputes and unresolved conflicts, aggression, foreign occupation and denial of the right to self-determination.
Talking to Speaker of Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran and Chairman of Russia’s State Duma in the sidelines meetings during the international conference on the “Parliamentarians Against Drugs’’ in Moscow, he said that terrorism and extremism was now an international issue and this was the right time to fight against this menace collectively.
“Both terrorism and extremism posed severe threat to global peace and prosperity but terrorism should not be associated with any religion, culture or society,” he said. “We must ensure regional stability and further economic integration to realise our goals,” he said.
He said that the upcoming Speakers’ Conference in Islamabad would not only pave way for a new era of development and prosperity of the region through connectivity but also help overcome menace of terrorism. The speakers from China, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan had been invited to attend the conference, he said.
He informed his counterparts that terrorism and extremism was now an international issue and this was the right time to fight against this menace collectively. Both terrorism and extremism posed a severe threat to global peace and prosperity but terrorism should not be associated with any religion, culture or society, he said.
He said that terrorism and extremism were directly related to conflicts and disputes and called on the international community to pay urgent attention to address festering disputes and unresolved conflicts, aggression, foreign occupation and denial of the right to self-determination. “We must ensure regional stability and further economic integration to realise our goals,” he said.
During meeting with Islamic Consultative Assembly Speaker Ali Larijani, Ayaz, both the leaders underscored the role of the lawmakers in strengthening relations between the two countries. Both the sides agreed to further enhance bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran, including through closer inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Talking to State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Voldon, Ayaz Sadiq conveyed Pakistan’s appreciation to the Russian parliament for taking the initiative to host the first international conference on parliamentarians against drugs. The State Duma chairman expressed appreciation for high-level participation from Pakistan in the conference.
Both the sides noted that, despite the efforts of the international community, drug problem continued to pose a serious challenge. They expressed concern that drug money was funding terrorism in the region and beyond. Concern was also expressed at the increasing levels of opium poppy production in Afghanistan. It was emphasised that drug production and trafficking also affected neighbouring and transit countries.
The two speakers expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of bilateral relations, which had enhanced significantly in recent years. They underlined that the parliamentary diplomacy had played a significant role in the deepening of cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in various field of mutual interest.
Volodin said that he was looking forward to his visit to Pakistan to participate in the regional conference on challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity to be held in Islamabad later this month.