Monday 11 May 2015

Prime Minister to visit Afghanistan

PR. No. 156/2015
Office of the Spokesperson
Press Release

News Edited By: Kanwal Abidi (063 News)

Curtain Raiser-Prime Minister to Visit Afghanistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will visit Afghanistan on 12 May 2015, at the invitation of President Ashraf Ghani.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Gen. Raheel Shareef, Chief of Army Staff, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and senior officials.

 This will be the Prime Minister’s second visit to Afghanistan and the first after the installation of National Unity Government in Kabul. Earlier, the Prime Minister visited Afghanistan on 30 November 2013.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will have tête-à-tête with President Ashraf Ghani, who will also host a lunch for the Prime Minister. Other engagements of the Prime Minister will include a meeting with the Afghan Chief Executive, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and delegation-level talks with the Afghan side.

Building close cooperative relations with Afghanistan is a high priority in Pakistan’s foreign policy and a vital component of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a “peaceful neighborhood.” 

The Prime Minister’s visit is taking place at a time when bilateral relations between the two countries are underpinned by unprecedented warmth, mutual trust and a shared vision of working in lockstep to build a peaceful and stable region.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Afghanistan would further strengthen the positive momentum in bilateral relations and help intensify common endeavors in the pursuit of durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Islamabad
11 May 2015

Friday 8 May 2015

Helicopter Crash in Naltar

Office of the Spokesperson
Press Release

News Edited by: Kanwal Abidi  (063 News, Press Agency)

 Helicopter Crash in Naltar

With a very heavy heart we are confirming that a helicopter crashed while landing in Naltar this morning. It was carrying Ambassadors of several countries, some of whom were accompanied by their spouses.

Unfortunately, there have been fatalities and injuries sustained by those travelling in the helicopter. Ambassadors of Norway and Philippines and spouses of Ambassador of Indonesia and High Commissioner of Malaysia have, tragically, lost their lives. Besides, two pilots of the helicopter have also died.

The President, the Prime Minister, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Secretary have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over this incident and conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

Ambassadors of the Netherlands and Poland have sustained injuries. The Prime Minister has directed that best possible medical and other facilities be extended to the injured.

This morning, Heads of Diplomatic Mission of more than thirty countries and their family members as well as some Pakistani dignitaries were flown to Gilgit by a C-130 aircraft. From there, they were being taken to Naltar in four helicopters for a three-day excursion trip. The helicopter that crashed was carrying seventeen persons, six of whom lost their lives. Such excursion trips are regularly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in consultation with the Diplomatic Corps.

To deal with this unfortunate situation, a Crisis Management Cell (CMC) has been established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The contact details of the CMC are as follows:

Tel: +92-51-9217828 & +92-51-90569161

Islamabad
08 May 2015