ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday spoke about its role in regional affairs and its relationships with its neighbors and said SAARC is an important forum but due to India’s one sided stance, it is at a standstill.

"I reiterate about Saarc summit in Islamabad that if India doesn’t want to come, they can participate virtually," Qureishi said.

The minister was presenting Year End Review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a news conference in Islamabad when he said that Pakistan tried its best and will continue its efforts toward a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

He said the country had successfully and effectively put forward our perspective and narrative on major foreign policy issues including Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the situation in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan played an important facilitating role for peace in Afghanistan and then for evacuation of foreigners from Kabul. He also said Pakistan has pledged five billion rupees humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people.

The minister said in 2021, "we had 85 bilateral exchanges with over 50 countries. There were 35 senior leadership visits to Pakistan, 32 senior leadership visits by Pakistan, over 50 high level multilateral engagements, 25 public diplomacy engagements at Foreign Minister level and 20 economic diplomacy engagements."

Five Pakistan sponsored or cosponsored resolutions were adopted by the United Nations, he said adding that seventy years celebrations were held with six countries.

Qureshi said several important developments and initiatives including Pakistan's role for peace in Afghanistan, shift from geopolitics to geo-economics, Vision Central Asia, Engage Africa, public diplomacy and digital diplomacy have helped advance Pakistan's foreign policy priorities.

The minister said that Pakistan's position regarding the Palestine issue was absolutely clear and we reiterated our commitment as well in the recently held Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers conference in Islamabad.

He said the OIC countries also agreed on provision of humanitarian assistance to the Afghans.

Speaking about Pakistan's response to Covid-19 the minister said that initiatives of Prime Minister Imran Khan were lauded worldwide.

Qureshi said within our region, under SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Pakistan extended anti-pandemic medical equipment and other assistance to SAARC Member States including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Maldives.

He said that our climate response was also appreciated in Cop26 summit.

He said that our economic diplomacy has led the country to improve by 39 points in Ease of Doing Business, 7 percent increase in trade with Africa and improvement by 59 points in Pakistan's Business Confidence Ranking.

Qureshi said $2.9 billion were deposited in Roshan Digital Accounts, $2 billion invested in Naya Pakistan certificates, 24.1 percent increase was witnessed in home remittances; and 2 billion dollars increase was recorded in the export of information technology.

Regarding digital diplomacy, he said all 114 missions have been brought online on social media platforms like twitter, Facebook and Instagram enabling greater transparency and access.

Speaking about Pak-Afghan border, Qureshi said that fencing is a reality. Pakistan has brotherly relations with Afghanistan, adding that whatever minor issues that are there on ground, will be sorted diplomatically.

Qureshi, while speaking regarding US-China 'Cold War', said that Pakistan will not a part of any group.

Speaking about political tenure completion, Qureshi said that there has been a political transition for years in Pakistan and we hope that those who proclaim to be champions of democracy would let this democratic process be completed and let the people decide who comes in next when the time for election comes