MUSCAT, 3 December 2006 — Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman yesterday renewed their pledge to bolster relations in various fields to meet the need of the hour.
A statement released after a formal round of talks between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and his Omani counterpart Yusuf ibn Alawi ibn Abdullah said the two countries were equally keen to further strengthen bilateral ties for the good of the two countries and the peoples.
The statement, released by the official news agency ONA, said the two sides also discussed regional as well as international issues and underscored the growing need for peaceful resolutions of conflicts. This was the third meeting between Kasuri and Yusuf ibn Alawi this year. The two leaders had earlier met in Islamabad in April and in New York in September.
Kasuri, who was accorded a warm welcome by Yusuf ibn Alawi on arrival at Seeb International Airport late Friday, lauded the growing links between the two maritime neighbors. “I am very happy to be in brotherly country of Oman. My discussions with Yusuf ibn Alawi have always reflected identity of views and understanding,” said Kasuri on arrival adding, “I have also brought the greetings and good wishes from President Pervez Musharaf for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and the people of Oman.” The Omani king paid a landmark visit to Pakistan in 2002 in response to the visit to Oman in 2000 by Musharaf to lend new dimensions to bilateral ties.
Pak-Oman Investment Company, a 50-50 joint venture established during the royal visit, is busy spreading wings, having set up a micro-finance bank in Pakistan to help alleviate poverty. Yesterday, Kasuri also held talks with Sheikh Abdullah ibn Ali Al-Qatabi, president of the Majlis-Al-Shoura, Oman’s lower house of Parliament.
Kasuri will today preside over the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a Pakistan Embassy complex next to the US Chancery in the presence of Omani officials and leading members of the Pakistani community before leaving for Kabul after a three-day visit to Oman.
