Islamabad (TDI): Starting the second day, the participants of the International Young Diplomats School (IYDS) were received by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin. The three-day school has been organized by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS).
Interacting with the Kazakh Ambassador, the participants took a keen interest in discovering perceptions in the Central Asian country regarding Pakistan. Ambassador Kistafin satisfied their curiosity by briefing in detail on all aspects of the bilateral relation.
With a presentation on “Kazakhstan and Pakistan in the 21st Century,” the Ambassador took stock of the history of establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
He then focused on the recent past and how the ties have evolved since Pakistan adopted a pivot to Central Asia; elaborating how this policy is a win-win for both Pakistan and the Central Asian countries.
The Ambassador also highlighted various facets of diplomatic alignment between Kazakhstan and Pakistan at regional and global multilateral forums. He noted that mutual trade is also showing great promise.
Sharing trade figures from last year, Ambassador Kistafin told the participants that there is enormous possibility for the bilateral trade volume to grow exponentially.
He elaborated on the cultural ties, the business and trade landscape, as well as state-to-state engagements, exchange of visits, and diplomacy.
The participants of IYDS had a meaningful and insightful interaction with the Ambassador. The participants, hailing from diverse backgrounds and regions of Pakistan, appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from the envoy.
The three day school runs under the theme “Building Network of Future Leaders through Public Diplomacy,” and offers an opportunity for students of International Relations (IR) and mid-career professionals to get a direct exposure to the world of diplomacy.
It kickstarted on Tuesday with a visit to the Austrian Embassy for an inaugural session, which was followed by an insightful interaction with the ambassador of Zimbabwe to Pakistan, Titus M. J. Abu Basutu, at the country’s embassy.
The ambassador shared lesser-known information on the history and culture of Zimbabwe. For their third stop the day, the participants arrived at the Russian Embassy in Islamabad, and were guided through a visual timeline of Pakistan-Russia relations.
Before heading to the last stop of the day – the Embassy of Nepal, the group reached the office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), where country representatives and UN officials interacted with the participants and briefed them on UNDP’s work in the country.
Finally, closing the first day, IYDS participants visited the Embassy of Nepal. The visit featured an engaging interactive discussion with Ambassador Rita Dhital.
She shared valuable perspectives on Nepal’s longstanding ties with Pakistan and the potential for enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
