Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Saturday said the Indian efforts to isolate Pakistan bore no fruit as the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) summit will be held in Islamabad on March I.

He said this while talking to reporters.

To a question, the adviser said that seven heads of state, deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan and foreign minister of Afghanistan confirmed their participation in the summit.

He said that he would talk to the Afghan national security adviser for his participation. He said Pakistan closed the border with Afghanistan temporarily as two terrorist attacks in Pakistan were linked to Afghanistan.  Crossings will re-open in one or two days, he added.

He said that stern security measures have been taken for the summit. He said bilateral meetings with Afghanistan and other countries would be held on the sidelines of the summit.

He underlined Pakistan has excellent relations with China and Central Asian states. After conducting this summit successfully, Pakistan will try to host SAARC summit.

Earlier, he said Amjad Hussain Sial will take charge as the SAARC secretary general on March 1.

He said that the theme of the summit is “Connectivity for Regional Prosperity”. The summit will deliberate and decide for the improvement in the areas of connectivity, trade, energy, tourism, investment, industry, economic growth, productivity, social welfare and environment. The initiatives for furtherance of education and scientific linkages, cultural and people to people contacts within the ECO would also be deliberated upon during the summit.

Aziz said the summit will be preceded by the senior official’s meeting on 26-27 February and council of foreign minister’s meeting on 28 February.

He said that UN and OIC will participate in ECO as observers and special guests have also been invited to attend the summit.

To a question that Pakistan has air links with a few Central Asian states then how it is possible to improve regional connectivity, Aziz replied that Pakistan has air links with two Central Asian states and such links with other states will also be developed. In this regard Turkish airlines will also play a vital role.

He said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an outstanding example of the summit’s theme of connectivity.

“It will augment the existing and planned transit and energy corridors in ECO region for greater progress and prosperity for our peoples.”

He said that the Islamabad Declaration would focus on the summit’s theme as a dynamic concept that encompasses multiple dimensions including transit transport such as rail, road, ports and shipping and cyber linkages. The summit would act as a catalyst to integrate these initiatives into a comprehensive connectivity apparatus of the ECO.

Speaking on ECO initiatives, he said that a Free Trade Area has been established in the ECO region. Its Operationalisation would be a major step towards realisation of the organisation’s goal of removal of trade barriers. The Transit Trade Framework Agreement (TTFA) is ECO’s basic document in the transport sector, providing background for a historical movement toward reduction of cost and acceleration of the transport services through harmonization and modernisation.

He said that ECO Trade and Development Bank is the financial arm of the organisation. The Fund for Reconstruction of Afghanistan is one of the initiatives of ECO. Pakistan has been a leading supporter of this initiative and has pledged a total of $5 million.

Speaking on expected outcomes, he said the adoption of ECO Vision 2025 is another major milestone for the organisation.