Special Secretary (Policy Planning & West Asia) receives Managing Director (Asia Pacific), EEAS

Mr. Muhammad Waheed-ul-Hasan, Special Secretary (Policy Planning & West Asia) received Mr. Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director (Asia Pacific), European External Action Service (EEAS) for a meeting today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Managing Director was accompanied by Ambassador of EU, Mr. Jean-Francois Cautain and other senior officials of EEAS.

The Special Secretary said that the friendly ties between Pakistan and the EU were of mutual benefit to both sides and stressed the need for strengthening these relations. Mr. Wiegand shared EU’s keen interest in deeper engagement with Pakistan and the region.

The two sides agreed on the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. Pakistan side highlighted the importance of Quadrilateral Coordination Group(QCG) process for reconciliation in Afghanistan. They also discussed the need for repatriation of Afghan refugees in a voluntary and dignified manner and urged efforts for their sustainable re-integration in Afghanistan. The Special Secretary briefed the EU delegation about Pakistan’s peaceful neighbourhood policy.

Islamabad
24 November 2016

596/2016