Pakistan assures support to Bahrain

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tuesday assured full support to Bahrain in the efforts to restore peace in the troubled country which was facing public uprising against the government policies.
The assurance was conveyed to Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa who held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
During a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, current regional issues and Pak-Bahrain bilateral relations were discussed in detail during which Zardari said Pakistan desired peace, security and stability in Bahrain and the whole of the Middle East. Pakistan would not like upsetting stability in the region, as it would be dangerous to destabilise the system one way or the other.
Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa described Pakistan as a ‘pillar of stability’ in the region. On the other hand, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed his concerns over the safety and security of Pakistani community in Bahrain and urged the government of Bahrain to pay special attention to address the matter.
He said that Pakistan was deeply concerned over the situation developing in the North Africa, Middle East and other parts of the Arab world, adding that it could be extremely detrimental to the overall stability and order in the Islamic countries.
Pakistan’s position on these matters was based on universally-recognised principles of respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states, as well as non-intervention and non-interference, he said. He underlined the need for strengthening the close fraternal ties between Pakistan and Bahrain by exploiting the immense potential to enhance their cooperation in multi-faceted fields.
In a separate meeting, Hina Rabbani Khar and Sheikh Khaled reviewed various issues including holding a meeting of Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission and matters relating to the GCC Strategic Dialogue, including early conclusion of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the GCC countries.