Islamabad, 4 January 2022 (TDI): A press conference was held at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Pakistan on the advent of 2022 to review the Foreign cum Diplomatic Affairs of Pakistan during the year 2021.
After wishing a Happy New Year, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi debuted the media conference by the formal verbosity and welcomed all. In 2021, from the perspective of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and the expansion of Pakistan’s external ties, he declared 2021 a significant year.
He claimed that Pakistan has successfully replicated its bilateral and multilateral diplomatic objectives at diverse diplomatic fronts in a preemptive manner with consistency.
Moreover, Pakistan has strengthened affable mutual ties with major powers and key partners from the world. Pakistan has raised its voice at the global forum and advocated sustainable and equitable development, climate change, debt relief, corruption, and illicit financial flows as well as the issue of Islamophobia.
In addition, Pakistan’s Ambassador to United Nations has successfully and effectively presented the country’s stance and narrative at international forums on major foreign policy issues regarding Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the Afghan crisis.
For MOFA, 2021 was also a year of evolution and reforms, as the planned strategic reforms became a reality in 2021. For this purpose, an agenda was devised based on Economic Diplomacy, Public Diplomacy Initiative, large-scale digital transformation, and leveraged Science Diplomacy.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi confidently said that being a regional pivot, Pakistan has played an imminent role with concrete and tangible actions to cement a reputation for responsibility, trustworthiness, and friendship. He revealed that during the last year, MOFA Pakistan worked for 365 days, 7 days a week, 4380 hours across multiple time zones.
In this regard, they had 85 Bilateral Exchanges with over 50 Countries, 35 Senior leaderships visited Pakistan, 32 Senior Leadership Visited by Pakistan, 18 Countries Visited, Over 50 High-level multilateral engagements, 35 International Forums, 5 Pakistan sponsored/cosponsored resolutions were adopted by the UN.
Besides, they held 25 Public Diplomacy Engagements at the Foreign Minister level, 70-year Celebrations held with 6 Countries, 20 Economic Diplomacy Engagements at the Foreign Minister level. They brought 14 Missions online across 3 Social Mediums. Furthermore, Sohail Mehmood told further key achievements throughout the year.
Afghanistan
Before and after the August 15th turn-off events, the developments in Afghanistan posed a drastic challenge to Pakistan as the immediate neighbor that has historically suffered the most from the repercussions of Afghanistan’s instability.
After the 15th of August, Pakistan played a central role in the safe evacuation of approximately 80,000 people from 42 different states, including diplomats, international NGO workers, members of the media, and many, many others.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that MOFA officials worked tirelessly 24 hours of the day and night to make this happen and proved themselves to be a responsible nation. They did their part efficiently. Prime Minister Imran Khan has offered Rs5 billion in aid to Afghanistan, the first consignment of the aid is under the way.
Pakistan has recurringly advocated the Afghan crisis case that there is no military solution to the situation in Afghanistan except negotiated political solution as a panacea.
With an interest in a stable Afghanistan and recognizing this window of opportunity for long-term stability after 40 years of violence, Pakistan has instigated its diplomacy by harvesting the parochial and international consensus on the need for constructive and sustained liaison with the new provisional authorities of Afghanistan in view to help the Afghan people sort against diverse intimidating challenges, especially the humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.
In this regard, the establishment of the six-country format of immediate neighbors of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s participation in the Moscow format, Troika plus meetings held in Islamabad, and the incessant coordination with the interim government of Afghanistan are the exclusives endeavors made by Pakistan.
17th Extraordinary Session of OIC CFM
On December 19th, 2021, Pakistan hosted the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad to focus on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Said session has provided a larger platform to address the humanitarian and economic crisis faced by the Afghan people, in which over 70 delegations participated, including 30 at the Ministerial/Deputy Ministerial level, as well as representatives from various regions, international organizations, and international stakeholders. The meeting resulted in a substantial and action-oriented outcome, which included:
- Establishment of a Humanitarian Trust Fund under the Islamic Development Bank
- Launching of a Food Security Program
- Appointment of a Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General
Along with other significant resolutions, the OIC CFM addressed the concerns of liquidity, enhanced access to banking channels, unfreezing Afghan assets, and ensuring that sanctions do not obstruct humanitarian aid.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2615 after the OIC Conference which reiterated that providing humanitarian and other aid to Afghanistan was not a breach of UN sanctions. It is a positive and important development.
Economic Diplomacy
Economic diplomacy has taken a major prominence in Pakistan’s foreign policy, in keeping with the government’s goal of focusing on geo-economics. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan said that under the vision of the Foreign Office, he personally stayed active with the overseas missions throughout the year to monitor their progress in relation to export and investment promotion, boosting the investors’ confidence, expansion in the flow of remittances, promotion of tourism, and widening economic ties with host countries.
This endeavor to promote and extend their trade and investment diversification across the world, together with actions taken at all the levels at home has resulted in tangible accomplishments this year, including:
- Upgrading of Pakistan by 39 points in ease of doing business
- 7% increase in trade with Africa
- Up-gradation by 59 points in Pakistan’s Business Confidence Ranking
- USD 2.9 billion deposited in 299000 accounts across 175 countries in Roshan Digital Accounts
- USD 2 billion invested in Naya Pakistan certificates
- 1% increase on home remittances to a record high of USD 18.7 billion (during 8 months of FY 2020-21)
- An increase of over USD 2 billion in the export of information technology and information technology-enabled sectors
These figures are acoustic for themselves by demonstrating Pakistan’s enormous potential as an economic powerhouse. Further, the Foreign Minister told that he was delighted to come together with the Foreign Minister and Minister of Trade for Hungary, Péter Szijjártó to virtually launch the Hungary-Pakistan Trade & Economic Window.
Consequently, the Hungarian Minister made his first visit to Pakistan with a high-level business delegation focused on Economic Diplomacy for which a business networking event was organized at the MOFA under Sohail Mehmood’s Initiative.
Digital Diplomacy
As per Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Digital Diplomacy was a key priority under the goals of the Foreign Office (FO), and it was in accordance with Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s vision of a Digital Pakistan.
As a founding member, FO welcomed the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization Deema Al Yahya to Pakistan this year, with the plans for further digital expansion and trade.
Further, he told that FO created the Foreign Minister’s Portal as part of the digital reform program to offer the diaspora with direct access to all 114 Pakistan Missions abroad, which are located in 87 countries for efficient handling and answer their needs.
All 114 Missions have been made available online via social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, allowing for transparency and access.
He stated that FO missions have also successfully marketed the Roshan Digital Accounts, which provides digital banking options to millions of non-resident Pakistanis. Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the ‘Automation of Power of Attorney,’ which addresses a long-standing desire of Pakistanis living abroad.
This facility was initially introduced as a trial project at 10 Pak Missions in the United States and the United Kingdom, which will be expanded to all Pak Missions across the world. MOFA has completely adopted the Vision of FO. Over the last year, Missions and Ministry have had over 1000 virtual meetings.
Public Diplomacy
In this regard, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that as the result of their effective public diplomacy programs, Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach increased dramatically in 2021.
They commemorated the 70 years of friendship with Argentina, China, Germany, Spain, and Thailand this year, conducting high-impact Public Diplomacy events to provide a fresh and rejuvenated people-to-people dimension to their relations.
Further in 2022, they already have marked the significant anniversaries in their ties with several other countries, including the UAE, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Cultural diplomacy is an important aspect of public diplomacy. In 2021, their work with Pakistan’s most captivating cultural export “coke studio” created ripples and was actually the first for the government in crafting and executing a public-private partnership of this level.
He told that he personally welcomed the 50 ambassadors from Islamabad representing 35 nations to Lahore for a weekend of sports, culture, and intellectual diplomacy.
Throughout the year, Pakistan commemorated important worldwide days, such as World Environment Day, for which they hosted a bike ride. They were also relieved to be in a comparatively better COVID19 atmosphere, which allowed them to hold the annual PFWOA charity bazaar.
He gladly revealed the second iteration of the Foreign Minister’s Honor’s List of 2021, in which Pakistan recognized 25 outstanding leaders under the age of 40 from the Pakistani community for their outstanding achievements in the fields of innovation, sustainability, science, technology, academia, politics, and social work.
Additionally, Pakistan conducted 85 bilateral exchanges with over 50 nations by making 2021 a year of meaningful diplomacy that strengthened their foreign relations. He personally conducted virtual meetings and telephone chats with counterparts of more than 50 countries.
High-Level Visits
Further, he revealed that High-level visits have been essential in reviving their diplomatic efforts. He traveled along with Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi to 18 different countries of the world during the last year. The Prime Minister made two trips to Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Saudi Arabia.
GCC + ME Countries
During the month of October 2021, President Alvi inaugurated the Pakistani Pavilion at Expo-2020 in UAE. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Saudi Arabia twice – in May and October. He visited the Middle Eastern nations on bilateral trips, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq.
Incoming bilateral visits included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed seven Memorandums of Understanding/Agreements, including one to operationalize the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC).
Pakistan’s exports to and remittances from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates increased, and a record number of workers were shipped to Qatar in 2021. Kuwait relaxed the visa requirements for Pakistani citizens, and about 1800 Pakistani healthcare experts have already arrived in Kuwait under a bilateral agreement on recruiting.
In July, Pakistan and Bahrain have convened the 2nd Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission. During the month of April, Pakistan hosted the first-ever single-country defense exhibition in Iraq. Throughout the year, Pakistan’s diplomatic endeavor demonstrated the strength of its time-tested and fraternal ties with its Gulf and Middle Eastern neighbors.
Iran
Regular meetings at the top level anchored in the same religion and shared values characterized Pakistan-Iran ties. President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan also met with President Raisi on the occasion of the ECO Summit in Ashgabat and the SCO Summit in Dushanbe.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi told with pleasure that he also had visited Iran three times. Besides, bilateral political consultations at the Foreign Secretary-level were also held In Islamabad.
Turkey
Reciprocal high-level visits and regular telephone conversations have maintained the historical and friendly ties with Turkey towards the rising trajectory. President Arif Alvi also visited Turkey in August 2021. Shah Mehmood Qureshi also visited twice and the Turkish Foreign Minister reciprocated the trips to Pakistan.
The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Cargo Train debuted on December 21st. Pakistan also hosted the 2nd Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan, which adopted the “Islamabad Declaration.”
Central Asian Republics
Pakistan pursued vigorous diplomatic outreach to the Central Asian Republics in accordance with FO’s ‘Vision Central Asia’ (CARs). During the year, Tajikistan’s President visited Pakistan, Pakistan’s President Alvi visited for the 15th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit, and Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister also attended the 14th ECO Summit virtually and headed the Pakistan mission to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. During the year, there was also a virtual summit between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
East Asia
Under the Vision East Asia policy, engagement with East Asian partners continued with a round table discussion between the Foreign Secretary and the resident ASEAN Ambassadors. Pakistan also had a number of political consultations with Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.
Europe
Interaction with European partners has been ongoing. In this regard, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Belgium were visited. Moreover, the 6th Round of Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue in Brussels was co-chaired, which resulted in the adoption of a thorough Joint Communiqué.
Foreign Ministers from Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark visited Pakistan. Bilateral Political Consultations/Dialogues were held with Norway, the EU, Switzerland, and Italy, along with the inauguration of the Hungary-Pakistan Trade and Economic Window (HPTEW) and the inaugural Hungary-Pakistan Business Forum.
Russian Federation
Pakistan has grown warm and strong relations with the Russian Federation. In addition to telephonic conversation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Pakistan in April. In September, Pakistan’s mission met in Dushanbe.
During the first 10 months, bilateral trade climbed up by 20%. Both states also have maintained a cumulative presence in Afghanistan.
United States
Pakistan stays true to its long-standing relationship with the US and looks forward to extending it into a broad-based mutually beneficial alliance. In this regard, FO’s mission met Secretary Blinken of the US in New York.
In September, the Energy and Climate Change Dialogues were launched. In addition, FO saw the revival of US Congressional trips to Pakistan, as well as a bipartisan Senate delegation visit in December.
Pakistan’s exports to the United States increased by 39%, surpassing the $5 billion mark for the first time. Pakistan was included in Amazon’s Seller’s List as a result of the Pak government’s efforts.
The United States aided Pakistan’s Covid-19 response by supplying 27.6 million doses of coronavirus vaccination. Both states also maintained a proximal presence in Afghanistan.
Africa
In 2021, a number of significant and unique projects were launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the ‘Engage Africa Policy.’ Five new Missions were to be established in Kigali, Rwanda.
Pakistan also organized virtual Africa Day festivities with 27 African nations and observed ‘Pak-Africa Friendship Day’ in 15 African capitals. Partners received food aid, storm relief, and scholarships. FO signed 12 Memorandums of Understanding on BPC with several African nations, as well as one on Visa Abolition with Senegal.
The Pak-Niger Business Forum was conducted in Niamey in September, and the 2nd Pak Africa Trade Development Conference was held in Lagos in November. Considerable business communities have participated in both events.
China
The year 2021 was important in the Pakistan-China relationship, as the two nations commemorated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in grand style, with over 140 events and activities staged across Pakistan and China.
These included the launch of a Joint Logo on March 2nd by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and FO Pakistan, participation by leaders in special receptions on May 21st, and the formation of 20 sister city/province relationships.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also congratulated President Xi Jinping on the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). These events re-energized the bilateral sentiments, reaffirmed their determination to strengthen our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, continue their joint efforts for the high-quality development of CPEC, and further elevate Pakistan-China friendship to a new level of bilateral cooperation, as envisioned by the leaders and people of both states.
China has continued to supply medical supplies to Pakistan regarding COVID-19 vaccinations in order to reinforce its pandemic response. Pakistan and China also kept close tabs on the situation in Afghanistan.
Aside from exchanges at the top level, both sides conducted a number of meetings, consultations, and forums. Pakistan–China exports reached up to US$ 2.85 billion in the first 10 months of 2021. China continued to be Pakistan’s top source of net FDI.
Regardless of Covid-19, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has entered a new era of high-quality development. On September 23, 2021, the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) held its online tenth meeting.
SAARC
Within the region, Pakistan provided anti-pandemic medical equipment and other aid to SAARC member states such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Maldives through the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Last week, the Secretary-General of SAARC paid a visit to Pakistan. Pakistan has expressed its desire to host the 19th SAARC Summit.
Bangladesh
Pakistan highly appreciates its connections with Bangladesh and looks forward to strengthening current ties, establishing new ones, and collaborating for a better future for their peoples and both countries.
During this year, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Pakistan. She accepted the invitation and she also invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka
The visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Sri Lanka in February offered new momentum to existing bilateral relations, with increased engagements at the highest levels of government.
During the visit, a Trade and Investment Conference, a Sports Diplomacy event, the signing of various MOUs on trade and investment, science and technology, tourism, and cultural exchanges, the extension of a US$ 50 million Defence Credit Line facility, PKR 52 million in sports assistance, the establishment of an Asian Civilization and Culture Centre, and 100 MBBS/BDS scholarships for Sri Lankan students were also announced.
India
Shah Mehmood Qureshi narrated that Indian hostile behavior has been revealed that has devastated the long-term peace and stability in the region, as well as the enormous potential for economic development and regional cooperation.
BJP-RSS Hindutva-inspired leadership has adopted a particularly irresponsible and politically motivated anti-Pakistan posture, as well as a patently anti-Muslim approach at home. Since 5 August 2019, India’s voluntary and illegal actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) geared the status by undermining the territory as disputed, entrenching its illegal occupation, and altering its demographic structure, as well as the inexorable widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and state-terrorism perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris, have further adversely affected the environment and threatened international peace.
Pakistan wishes to maintain amicable ties with all of its neighbors, including India. As Imran Khan has stated, it is India’s responsibility to take the required steps to establish conditions for a favorable and fruitful conversation. The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict is a requirement for long-term peace and stability in South Asia.
Unfortunately, with the deterioration of the situation in IIOJK, the victimization of Kashmiri people and leaders has become persistently unabated. Almost the entire Kashmiri leadership is either imprisoned or under house arrest on fabricated allegations.
It has been told during the media conference that in IIOJK’s largest-ever crackdowns, 1400 Kashmiris were unlawfully detained in the month of October 2021. Since August 5, 2019, more than 502 Kashmiris have been slain by Indian occupation troops in false encounters and extrajudicial operations.
Ever since, Pakistan has remained engaged in all platforms to strongly condemn India’s unilateral and unlawful actions in IIOJK. Pakistan’s comprehensive initiatives are supported by national consensus.
Pakistan has emphasized the legal, human rights, and peace and security components of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, as well as backed the righteous fight of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination at all discussion forums, including the United Nations.
India’s activities clearly violate the charter of UN, UN Security Council resolutions, international law, including human rights and international humanitarian law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention, also.
Jammu and Kashmir is an officially recognized disputed territory and one of the UN Security Council’s oldest unresolved issues. Numerous UN Security Council decisions have established that the ultimate disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be decided in line with the will of the Kashmiri people expressed through the democratic process of a free and impartial plebiscite held under the UN.
This has also been reiterated during the visit of the then UNGA President, Volkan Bozkir to Pakistan. He restated like UN Secretary-General that the United Nations’ approach on the stance of Jammu and Kashmir is guided by the UN Charter and relevant Security Council Resolutions.
Since August 5, 2019, the UN Security Council has met three times to discuss the Jammu and Kashmir problem. The UN Secretary-General has advised all parties to avoid actions that might jeopardize the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Further, it has been cited that on September 12, 2021, Pakistan unveiled a comprehensive dossier containing irrefutable evidence of human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed by Indian occupation forces in IIOJK in order to better inform the international community about the scope of Indian atrocities in IIOJK.
Since August 1, 2019, the Prime Minister and FO made around 25 direct messages to the P-5 leadership, UNSC President, UNSG, OHCHR, and the EU. This year, 8 messages have been sent.
Five Joint Communications on human rights violations in IIOJK were submitted by UN Special Rapporteurs in 2021 have been cited too during the press briefing. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has remained concerned about the human rights situation in Kashmir. They have also demanded the release of Khurram Parvez, a Kashmiri human rights advocate.
On the subject of Jammu & Kashmir, the OIC has always expressed its strong and consistent support. In August 2021, a group from the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission visited Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
From November 8 to 12, 2021, the OIC’s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir and the OIC’s Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs visited Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The trips emphasized the importance of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict in achieving long-term peace in South Asia.
Earlier, on the verge of the 76th UNGA Session, the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met at the Ministerial level and issued a strongly worded Joint Communiqué reaffirming the OIC’s support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.
The international community must hold India accountable for its atrocities in Kashmir and secure a just resolution to the Kashmir conflict in conformity with UN Security Council resolutions and the Kashmiri people’s demands.
Meanwhile, Pakistan would continue to provide moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir in their right quest for self-determination.
Minorities in India
In addition to the flagrant violations of human rights across IIOJK, the worrying trend of persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims, and damage of their places of worship in India has worsened during the course of the year under the BJP-RSS joint administration. While Islamophobia has reached new heights, the Christian community is now facing unprecedented attacks from Hindu Rashtra supporters.
The cruel eviction campaign against Muslims in Assam, vandalism of mosques, stores, and residences owned by Muslims in Tripura, and the most recent violent cries for Muslim extermination by Hindutva supporters in Haridwar, Uttarkhand illustrate the grim reality of today’s India.
Religious Tolerance in Pakistan
It has been told that Pakistan prioritizes the rights of minorities and their houses of worship. In this regard, a celebration of Kartarpur Corridor as ‘Corridor of Peace’ on November 09, 2021, was presented as an instance.
Accordingly, Pakistan voluntarily hosted the 552nd birthday of Bab Guru Nanak from 17th to 26th of November. Pilgrims came from all around the Kartarpur Corridor after the Government of India made a last-minute decision to reopen the Corridor after a 20-month lockdown. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, after the lock-down from March 16, the corridor has been reopened from the Pakistani side since June 29, 2020.
Multilateralism
Throughout the year, Pakistan effectively used its high profile and leadership role in international fora to protect and advance the country’s critical interests and objectives. On September 25, Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the 76th UNGA Session, where he discussed the situation in Afghanistan, Jammu, and Kashmir, and the issues of Islamophobia, COVID-19, and the attendant economic crises, and Climate Change.
Pak’s FO attended the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 21 to September 25 and had various bilateral talks on the sidelines. Pakistan has maintained to serve on several key bodies of the UN set up and has acquired leadership positions at various forums.
From January 2022, Pakistan will take over as chairman of the Group of 77 and China, the UN’s largest grouping of developing nations. Previously, Pakistan served as President of ECOSOC from 2020 to 2021. Pakistan was elected to 7 UN organizations this year.
The UNGA President, High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Executive Director of World Food Programme (WFP), Director General of International Organization for Migration (IOM), Under-Secretary-General of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator all paid visits to Pakistan. Pakistan was also visited by the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO).
Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed pride in working with Turkey, Sudan, and Palestine to call an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Palestine in May. The UNGA accepted important resolutions sponsored by Pakistan. These were some examples:
- Resolution on Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples to Self-determination
- New resolution on Countering Disinformation for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
- Promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue co-sponsored by Pakistan and the Philippines
In its 47th session, the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers overwhelmingly approved a resolution proposed by Pakistan to commemorate March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
To celebrate the Day, a high-level gathering was held in New York, attended by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the UN Secretary-General, and other dignitaries.
