Visit of the Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa to Pakistan

(2012-11-14)

At the invitation of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim of the Republic of South Africa visited Pakistan from 3-8 November 2012.

Pakistan and South Africa enjoy warm and cordial relations. Pakistan was at the forefront of international efforts to dismantle the apartheid system in South Africa. Late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto along with President Asif Ali Zardari had visited South Africa in 1994 for the inauguration ceremony of President Nelson Mandala. Earlier, the Government of Pakistan had honoured President Nelson Mandala with Nishan-e-Imtiaz during his first visit to Pakistan in October 1992.

As both Pakistan and South Africa are non-permanent Members of the UNSC, the visit was intended to provide an opportunity for close interaction and consultation on regional and global issues, especially on counter-terrorism and the conflict in Syria.

The visit was the first-ever Ministerial Level visit from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa since 1994. It provided an opportunity to review the entire range of bilateral relations and ways and means to further consolidate these ties.

The visiting dignitary called on the Foreign Minister. He also visited Lahore and called on the Governor Punjab.

Islamabad
14 November 2012

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