ROME, Italy: The Minister of Defence Khurram Dastgir Khan on Friday termed terrorism as an international phenomenon, and said combined effort of all Countries was required to fight this menace.
Talking to members of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Italian Parliament in Rome, the minister spoke about Pakistan’s role in regional stability and the efforts undertaken by it in eradicating terrorism.
Dastgir said Pakistan had rendered tremendous sacrifices to cleanse its territory of terrorists and extremists. He elaborated on the strategy adopted by Pakistan in fighting terrorism and the National Action Plan (NAP).
The minister further said regional peace in South Asia was only possible with peace in Afghanistan and improved ties between Pakistan and India.
Khurram Dastgir stressed that it was imperative to settle the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. He said peace and economic development in the region would remain a mirage in the absence of settlement of regional disputes.
The Italian parliamentarians appreciated and commended Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. They reiterated the desire of Italy to enhance its relations with Pakistan.
Earlier, the President of the Defence Committee Francesco Saverio Garofani and the President of the Italian Parliamentary Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly and Deputy President of the Foreign Affairs Committee Andrea Manciulli received Khurram Dastgir when he visited the Minister of Defence to Italian Parliament at the Chamber of Deputies.