Pakistan has not been isolated in the region: Sartaj Aziz

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has not been isolated in the region, foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz said in an address to the national assembly on Monday.

He said that the perception that Pakistan’s foreign policy has been flawed for the last seventy years is wrong. “After 9-11 Muslim countries suffered hostilities. Successful foreign policies helped in securing Pakistan,” he said.

The foreign affairs advisor said that compared to other countries in the region Pakistan’s foreign ministry budget is very less. “In the last three years the budget has only increased by 14 percent.”

He added that a former ambassador was spreading wrong ideas about Pakistan.

Several members in the assembly criticized Sartaj Aziz during his speech.

“At this age Sartaj Aziz should pray on a prayer mat,” Jamshed Dasti said taking a jibe at his age.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shireen Mazari lamented the absence of a foreign minister in the country. “As a result there is no direction to the country’s foreign policy,” she said.