Foreign Policy always protected country's interests: Khar

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, brushed aside fingers of accusations against the country's Foreign Policy in the National Assembly on Monday, saying it was always conducted in accordance with the wishes of the people and protected Pakistan's interests.

Speaking on the floor of the House after Opposition made a rumpus on the performance of Foreign Affairs, the minister reckoned the country’s achievements on diplomatic fronts including hampering Indian bid to secure permanent seat at UN Security Council.

She said GHQ and intelligence agencies are vital partners in foreign policy making.

Hina spelt out government's high regard to the resolutions of the Parliaments. "Government has always considered the Parliament and people as its strength," she said and informed a number of visits were undertaken to the US in the wake of unanimous resolution passed by the Parliament. The minister said leadership of the country formulated foreign policy and that detail of each visit was told to the Foreign Relations Committee.

Hina said Government was cognizant of the fact that there must be economic returns of Foreign Policy, adding efforts were afoot on those lines.

Referring to Zia ul Haq era being over, she said a sea-change had occurred between Pak-Afghan relations with both countries dealing each other at equal footing. "It's our national interest that Afghanistan should be a peaceful country," she remarked.

The minister said Pakistan was able to bring India back to the negotiation table with a rounds of talks at Commerce Secretary Level, Sir Creek and Siachin. "Indian PM was saying exactly what our PM was saying at Mohali," she added.(APP)