Pakistan-Sri Lanka Ties
By the Editor

THE  much admired and persuasive Chandrika Kumaratunga, the President of Sri Lanka—now a days visiting Pakistan—have had momentous talks with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Wednesday on issues having direct bearing on South Asia with specific reference to their bilateral trade and economic relations—as well as the atypical situation which has surfaced because of the postponement of the SAARC Summit—due to India’s customary egoism.

Both leaders later told newsmen that the two countries will gain enormously from bilateral free trade. President Kumaratunga lauded Pakistan’s efforts for peace in South Asia as well as to combat terrorism. She thanked Pakistan for its quick relief assistance for tsunami victims.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have always enjoyed excellent relations in various fields. The two countries have common vision and shared perceptions on many a regional and international issue. They are also confronted with common problems of terrorism and economic retardation.

It’s unfortunate that President Kumaratunga is visiting Pakistan in the backdrop of postponement of the 13th SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka on February 5 and 6 last.

President Musharraf has expressed his disappointment over the development and Sri Lankan President has hoped that new dates for the summit will be finalized soon.

It’s officially stated that the Sri Lankan President has held useful and productive talks with Pakistani leaders for further expansion of their relations in different sectors. The Sri Lankan side is also quite comfortable with the talks.

The two sides have specifically referred to the free trade agreement as mutually beneficial to both peoples and have expressed the hope that it will rather mark a new era of closer economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries. A protocol was signed in this connection by the two nations on Wednesday.

An agreement to grant exemption from visa fees for students and MoUs for technical assistance in the field of gemmology and jewellery and cooperation in the field of agriculture were also signed. Pakistan has also granted a ten million dollar credit facility to Sri Lanka.

It’s, therefore, hoped that President Kumaratunga’s visit will accord new dimensions to Pak-Sri Lankan ties, which will, inter alia, prove vital for regional peace, security and stability.

Due to Pakistan’s principled position of mutual cooperation and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, it has good relations with other regional States.

It’s, however, imperative that a strategy for further improvement of these ties should be pursued by Islamabad for the mutual benefit of all regional countries.●