Pakistan deeply committed to Muslim world's unity: PM

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APP
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Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif representing Pakistan at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit. APP
 

RIYADH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said that Pakistan had a deep commitment to the Muslim world's unity and to promoting interfaith harmony and dialogue during his interaction with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, US President Donald Trump, and other leaders from the Arab and Islamic countries, who had gathered here for the first Arab-Islamic-American Summit.

Sharif said that being a frontline state, Pakistan had rendered remarkable sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism, according to a Foreign Office statement.

Expressing his pleasure to be part of the event, the Prime Minister said choosing Saudi Arabia as the first Arab-Islamic-American Summit's venue was appropriate, given the reverence and respect the entire Muslim world has for the land of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).





The PM appreciated Trump's leadership in making this Summit his first overseas engagement, adding that the latter's initiative was of great symbolic significance.

"The rising tide of terrorism and extremism is the most daunting challenge that the world confronts today. Unfortunately, Pakistan has been in the forefront of this existential struggle, bearing a disproportionately large burden," Sharif commented.

The Prime Minister said tens of thousands of Pakistani citizens and security personnel had been martyred or injured in terrorist attacks, while billions of rupees have been lost in terms of economic cost.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in a group photo with leaders participating in Arab-Islamic-American Summit. APP
 

Sharif apprised that like many other countries, Pakistan had made tough choices and taken difficult decisions to tackle the new and emerging challenges. "We have confronted terrorism with courage and conviction and the massive human and financial costs have further strengthened our resolve," he added.

The PM stated the turnaround in Pakistan – both on the security and economic fronts, with 2016 witnessing the lowest number of terrorist attacks in a decade – presented a good example of how political commitment, based on an across-the-board national consensus and supported by the armed forces' determined and well-organised kinetic operations, could translate into the desired results in countries afflicted with the scourge of extremism and terrorism.





Besides, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Trump, the prime minister exchanged views with a number of other leaders, including the Emir of Qatar, King of Bahrain, President of Azerbaijan, Malaysian Prime Minister, and President of Tajikistan.