Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Pakistan and Bosnia on Wednesday signed two accords of cooperation, including memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the return home of illegal Pakistani migrants and scientific cooperation. The leaders of both countries also agreed to improve trade relations.
The accords were signed at the Prime Minister’s House, where Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic arrived on a two-day visit earlier Wednesday on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The Bosnian leader was received by the PM at his official residence where Dzaferovic was presented a guard of honour. Both leaders formally introduced their respective cabinet members on the occasion.
Later, Prime Minister Imran and Chairman Dzaferovic witnessed the signing of various agreements between the two countries.
Under the MoUs, a large number of illegal migrants from Pakistan, currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be returned through a readmission process.
The agreement between the Pakistan government and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on streamlining the protocols of readmission of illegal Pakistanis was signed by Interior Minister Brig. Ijaz Ahmed Shah and Bosnian Minister for Security Selmo Cikotic.
An MoU between Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of scientific cooperation was also signed by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and the Bosnian security minister.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the accords were signed, Prime Minister Imran said both countries had decided to improve trade relations with each other.
The premier pointed out that trade between the two countries currently stood at €4.5 million which he said was “nothing”.
“We have had meetings and will have further meetings to improve trade and cooperation in all fields,” he said. The premier also thanked Bosnia for its support of Pakistan’s stance on occupied Kashmir.
“[Bosnia] took a principled stance and talked about the people’s rights [and] a just settlement. India has been taken over by a fascist ideology — not just with what is happening in Kashmir but also with minorities in India.”
The PM disclosed that both leaders also discussed Islamophobia in their meeting. “We condemned acts by Muslims in France but we felt that for inter-religious harmony, it is important that freedom of speech
is not used as an instrument to hurt the sentiments of any religious community,” he added.
“Any insult, ridicule or mocking of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) causes the greatest pain to the Muslim community and Western countries must understand that [they] cannot use freedom of speech as a weapon against Muslims. “Unless this is understood, Muslims will react which will lead to marginalisation [and] radicalisation.”
In his speech, Dzaferovic thanked the premier for his invitation, saying he was “grateful for the opportunity to visit Pakistan”. He said both the countries had stood by each other in difficult times.
Dzaferovic said human rights of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir must be respected and stressed that the dispute should be resolved in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. He also strongly condemned Islamophobic incidents as unacceptable, calling for a dialogue to build bridges and evolve unity around diversity.
