By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
The Italy–Pakistan friendship refers to bilateral relations between the Republic of Italy and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The two nations enjoy warm and have cordial relations.
Italy is an active investor in Pakistan and has provided Pakistan US$100 million under the Pakistan Italian Debt for Development Swap Agreement to social development projects in health, education and sanitation, in Pakistan. The Italian Government has agreed to provide a credit line equivalent to $10 billion for Italian investors keen to invest in Pakistan and has also supported Pakistan’s bid for a free trade agreement between Pakistan and EU. Italy supports a free trade agreement with Pakistan within the European Union and extends diplomatic and political support to Pakistan at various international forums.
Over 150,000 Pakistanis are living in Italy and contributing toward the socio-economic development of Italy. Most of them are skilled workers, and some of them are highly qualified professionals. A vast community of young students also serve Italy as a competitive workforce in their Industry and economic sectors.
Pakistan maintains an embassy in Rome and a Consulate-General in Milan, Whereas Italy keeps an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi, and an honorary consulate in Lahore. Italy has been a critical participant in Pakistan’s scientific contribution to the world, and both countries established the International Conference on Astrophysics and Relativity in 2011.
The 5th Round of Pakistan-Italy Annual Bilateral Political Consultations was held virtually on January 27, 2021. Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood led the Pakistan side, while Secretary-General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Elisabetta Belloni, led the Italian delegation. The entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including the fight against the Pandemic, political, trade, economic ties, energy, defense, migration, and people-to-people exchanges, were reviewed during the Consultations. Views were also exchanged on regional and global issues.
Agreeing that Pakistan and Italy have good relations based on mutual trust and cooperation principles, the two sides resolved to expand the relationship in all dimensions further.
Foreign Secretary expressed condolences over the loss of lives in Italy due to Covid-19 and praised the Italian Government’s efforts in containing the Pandemic. He informed his counterpart of the Government of Pakistan’s measures to over-come the second wave of Covid-19 while saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy. The two sides exchanged views on the socio-economic effect of the Pandemic and discussed ways of mitigating the adverse effects.
The Foreign Secretary also updated the Italian side on the vast and attractive investment opportunities and avenues in Pakistan and guaranteed that Italian companies and investors will be fully facilitated and expedited in all sectors. He thanked the Italian side for its backing on GSP Plus status for Pakistan with the European Union. The Foreign Secretary highlighted the need to increase the business-to-business interface as soon as the Covid situation subsides.
The Foreign Secretary emphasized the importance of a strong Pakistani diaspora in Italy, which acts as a linking-bridge between the two friendly countries. He cherished Pakistan’s re-inclusion in the seasonal visa program and non-seasonal work visas and specified that the two sides should work together to streamline matters related to migration.
The Foreign Secretary informed on the critical human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) and the endeavors to change the occupied territory’s demographic structure irrationally. He emphasized that the international community must take full cognizance of the deteriorating situation in IIOJK and support the peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with pertinent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.
Concerning Afghanistan, the Foreign Secretary highlighted no military solution to the conflict and that a negotiated political settlement was the only way forward. He underlined Pakistan’s positive contributions to the Afghan peace process. He emphasized the importance of Afghan stakeholders to avail this historic opportunity to secure Afghanistan’s sustainable peace and stability. The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to reduce violence, leading to a ceasefire and the imperative of an inclusive, broad-based, and comprehensive political solution through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned course.
The Foreign Secretary congratulated Italy on assuming the Presidency of G-20 and co-Presidency of COP-26. The two sides communicated satisfaction on existing strong cooperation at international fora, specifically at the United Nations, including on the matter of Security Council Reforms. They agreed to work jointly to deepen cooperation in the multilateral arena further.
The next round of Bilateral Political Consultations is scheduled to be held next year on mutually agreed dates.
Both countries face similar challenges including Pandemic, economic, and social sectors. Collaboration between two nations is based on mutual interests, equality, and complimenting each other’s weaknesses and strengths. It is expected to enhance people to people contacts to bring two friendly nations closer to each other and open many avenues of common interests.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
(The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights)