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Date: 18/08/2009   

Speech by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Seminar on Pakistan-Nepal Relations  

Mr. Amir Gulistan Janjua, President, Association of Friends of Nepal,

His Excellency Bala Bahadur Kunwar, Ambassador of Nepal,

Director General, Foreign Service Academy,

Distinguished Guests,

It gives me immense pleasure today to be invited to speak at this seminar on “Pakistan-Nepal Relations: Perspectives and Prospects” jointly organized by the Friends of  Nepal forum and the Embassy of Nepal in Islamabad. I commend the organizers for highlighting the desire to further strengthen the cordial and friendly relations between Pakistan and Nepal.

This Seminar could not have come at a more opportune time keeping in view the fast changing international and regional environment as well as the transformation taking place in our respective countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Developing mutually beneficial relations with Nepal is an important facet of our Foreign Policy. Based upon the principles of peaceful co-existence, the relations between Pakistan and Nepal have continued to grow in various spheres. Pakistan and Nepal live in the shade of the same chain of lofty mountains whose rivers and springs nourish our fertile lands. Common geographical, historical and cultural facets lend both countries a promising potential to strengthen their bilateral relations.

Within five years of independence, Pakistan developed strong and friendly relations with Nepal.

Initial contact between the two countries began in 1952 at the Colombo Plan meetings and the Bandung Conference in 1955. Subsequently, Foreign Minister Hamid-ul-Haq Chaudhry participated in the coronation ceremony of King Mahendra in 1956.

Formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Nepal were established in March 1960 followed by a state visit to Pakistan by King Mahendra in September 1961. Numerous subsequent state visits made by the top leadership of both countries since then, helped cement friendly ties between the two countries even further.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Pakistan and Nepal share similar views on regional and international issues. Pakistan supported Nepal's admission to the UN in 1955 and subsequently it's candidature for the non permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 1968.

Pakistan and Nepal are important members of SAARC. They share the common vision of promoting this regional organisation to the benefit of more than a billion people living in South Asia.

Given the excellent relations and the shared desire to expand mutually beneficial co-operation, several agreements have been signed between Pakistan and Nepal. Pakistan and Nepal have in place the Annual Bilateral Consultations at the level of the Foreign Secretaries which has helped in the smooth functioning of our bilateral relations.

A Joint Economic Commission was established under an Agreement signed by the Finance Ministers of Pakistan and Nepal in 1983. The Commission co-chaired by the Finance Ministers held its first meeting at Kathmandu in 1983 and second at Islamabad in 1984. In the last 25 years, the efforts of the Commission have resulted in signing of agreements in the fields of agriculture, air services, and trade. The Nepalese Finance Minister is expected to lead a delegation to Islamabad in the near future for the next session of the Commission.

Under the Cultural Agreement of 1970, the Government of Pakistan has been providing educational facilities, training and scholarships to Nepalese students in the banking, agriculture, medicine and engineering sectors. 

The cordiality and spirit of friendship at the political level is also reflected in our defence ties. Our two militaries enjoy good interaction. Pakistan imparts training to personnel of both arms of the Nepalese Military. To-date 97 Nepalese pilots and aeronautical engineers have received training in Pakistan. Moreover a number of officers of the Nepalese Army are trained every year in the training institutions of the Pakistan Army. During 2008, around 40 officers of Nepalese Army attended training courses in various institutions of Pakistan.

I feel proud to say that General Rookmangud Katwal the outgoing Army Chief of Nepal, is also a graduate of our National Defence College.

As a sincere friend, Pakistan has been assisting Nepal in other ways as well. Besides providing ambulances and medical equipment to the hospitals in Nepal, the most important donation from Pakistan was the 50-bed Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Chitwan which was built about 21 years ago and is catering to the needs of about 1.5 million people in Nepal.

Let me now update you on some of the recent developments in Pakistan-Nepal bilateral relations.

Our top leadership has met twice in less than a year. President Zardari and former Prime Minister Prachanda met on the sidelines of the last UN General Assembly Session in September 2008. Recently, Prime Minister Gillani met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on 16 July on the sidelines of NAM Summit at Sharm-al-Sheikh.

A Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Nepal was signed in 1962. A fresh Agreement was concluded in 1982 where by both countries accorded Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to each other. However, bilateral trade remains insignificant at around US$ 2 million and needs to be enhanced.

Our two Foreign Secretaries held the last round of the Annual Bilateral Consultations in June 2009 in Kathmandu. During the meeting, the two Foreign Secretaries reviewed the entire gamut of Pakistan-Nepal relations. They decided to comprehensively upgrade the bilateral relationship and in this context agreed on the essential elements of a shared strategy to take Pakistan-Nepal relations to new heights.

The Foreign Secretary during his call on Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal delivered a message from the Prime Minister of Pakistan with a cordial invitation to visit Pakistan. He also conveyed my invitation to the Foreign Minister of Nepal, to visit Pakistan.

So, you can see a solid sense of commitment on part of both our countries to further enhance the bilateral relations.

Let me conclude by stressing that Pakistan-Nepal bilateral relations will get further strengthened in the years to come. The relations between our two countries are based on the principles of non-interference in each others’ internal affairs and respect for each other's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

These guiding principles have always been our terms of reference with regard to our relations with Nepal and will continue to be so in future, ensuring ever lasting bilateral relationship.

I must once again compliment the organizers of this Seminar for focusing on the need to further strengthen the relations between Pakistan and Nepal.