SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi rejected linking militancy and terrorism to Islam, at the 10th ASEM Summit Retreat

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi currently leading the Pakistan delegation to the 10th ASEM Summit in Milan rejected insinuations being made linking militancy and terrorism to Islam. He said that there was nothing Islamic about people engaged in murder and mayhem. Their activities represented a complete anti-thesis to the teachingsof Islam, a religion of peace, moderation and tolerance.

In his off-the-cuff remarks at the Summit Retreat this morning, the SAPM also touched on Europe-Asia cooperation on energy security, the impact of climate change and differences relating to the South China Sea. He called for these issues to be resolved through dialogue and cooperation amongst the member states.

He also referred to the recent floods in Pakistan that had led to loss of live and resources and called for greater Europe-Asia cooperation in weather forecasting, disaster management, access to renewable energy technologies and sharing of knowledge for innovative solutions. He also called for dialogue to manage migration in ways that address the economic needs of sending and receiving countries.

SAPM also had important interaction today with the Prime Minister of Finland, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Deputy Foreign Minister of Indonesia.

Islamabad
17 October, 2014