1. ABC Certified Since 2012 ABC Certified Vol. # 10 Issue # 04 www.diplomaticstar.com.pk April 2021 Monthly Islamabad DIPLOMATIC STAR Pakistan’s Leading Diplomatic Affairs Magazine Pakistan and Azerbaijan decides to H.E. Ali Alizada start Post-Covid direct flights Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan DIPLOMATIC STAR 1 Pakistan, Germany enjoying Denmark’sApril 2021 interest in Unity in Diversity Pakistan Green initiative 2 DIPLOMATIC STAR April 2021 Monthly Islamabad April 2021 Diplomatic Star Vol. # 10 Issue # 04 Editorial Chief Editor Raja Aamir Mahmood Bhatti Publisher Zahida Perveen Executive Editor Raja Asif Mahmood Bhatti Diplomatic correspondent Biden to take off US forces from Afghanistan Shabbir Hussain The Biden administration has now set a clearer timeline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. While the US Presi- Chief Correspondent (Europe) dent said it would be “difficult” to meet the May 1 deadline between Tariq Mahmood Awan the previous US administration and the Afghan Taliban, US officials now say the evacuation will be completed by September 11. While Chief Reporter some see it as the roundabouts change, it can also be seen as a more realistic, achievable history. Khalid Ali Khan It is also important to note that the announcement comes ahead of the Afghan peace talks in Istanbul on April 24. However, the Afghan Special Correspondent Taliban has said they will not take part in the program in Turkey Mohsin Ali until “all foreign forces have withdrawn from our country. “But it is also true that much can change between now and April 24 and we Photographer can expect great diplomatic activity to make the Istanbul program a success and for the Taliban to accept the new date. Ramzan Mughal Foreign involvement in Afghanistan has been a major source of instability in the country, although the Afghan political class and Legal Advisors militants have also played a significant role in the destruction of Sajid Ilyas (Advocate) their homeland. However, the forever war cannot continue, and the High Court & Supreme Court of Pakistan sooner foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan and the Afghans accept responsibility for their own country, the better. Washington Javid Iqbal (Advocate) must stick to the new date and make sure there is no further delay. Supreme Court of Pakistan And when the Taliban are talking harshly about this latest develop- ment, they must show flexibility and continue negotiations with Graphic Designer the government in Kabul. The fact is that the Istanbul Summit offers a good opportunity for Muhammad Ikhlaq all Afghan factions, the Western-backed government, the Taliban, and other political and tribal stakeholders to move the peace pro- Printer: cess forward and set some worthwhile goals. And it would be a good Roohani Art Press, Islamabad idea for all factions, especially the Taliban, to refrain from all forms of violence as a major confidence-building measure to show that Office: they have come to the Turkish city in good faith. If the Taliban con- House # R-62, St # 12, Ghouri Town, tinue to take a hard line and decide to boycott the meeting, it could have an impact on the withdrawal of foreign troops and leave Af- Phase 4-A , Islamabad ghanistan in further uncertainty. Contact: 0312-5077006 This is fact that Afghanistan has suffered for decades because pow- 0333-5164302 erful local players have refused to compromise and insisted on hog- ging power. As a result, the people of this country have suffered im- Email: [email protected] mensely. The United States and its Western allies appear to have largely won the Afghan war - although some Republicans want the US mission to continue indefinitely. It will be seen in the coming Price Rs: 500 weeks whether the principal Afghan players are willing to lift the USA: $10 gauntlet. Euro zone: €10 Chief Editor Raja Aamir Mahmood Bhatti DIPLOMATIC STAR 3 Disclaimer! April 2021 The views of the writers do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine Exclusive Interview Pakistan and Azerbaijan decides to start Post-Covid direct flights H.E. Ali Alizada Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Raja Aamir Mahmood Bhatti countries. “the three countries desired of [email protected] The Foreign Ministers of both further deepening cooperation countries agreed to further in all areas of mutual interest.” DS: Would you please let us boost the cooperation in diverse Both, the bilateral meetings know about the important de- fields of mutual interest includ- and the trilateral meeting al- velopments during the recent ing political, strategic, trade, ready lasted a positive impacts visit of the Foreign Minister of economic, energy, defense, to our relations and will con- Azerbaijan to Pakistan? peace and security, humani- tinue to further boost coopera- Ambassador: As a newly ap- tarian, science and technology, tion. pointed FM of Azerbaijan, Mr. cultural and people-to-people DS: During the meetings in Jeyhun Bayramov was keen to ties, as well as continue to sup- Islamabad, the FMs also dis- pay one of his earliest official port each other on all issues in- cussed the Karabakh and visits to the brotherly country volving our countries’ national Kashmir issues. What is the of Pakistan to discuss the pos- interests. stated policy of Azerbaijan on sibilities of strengthening and Another development during Kashmir? boosting relations with Paki- the visit was to hold the sec- Ambassador: As a country stan. As you are aware the last ond trilateral meeting of FMs which enormously suffered bilateral visit of the FM of Azer- of Azerbaijan, Pakistan and from the Armenian aggres- baijan to Pakistan took place 10 Turkey. This meeting success- sion and occupation for almost years ago and I think this visit fully concluded by the signing three decades, we understand itself was one of the important of Islamabad declaration by the the consequences of the con- developments between the two three FMs. The declaration said flicts well. As a member of the 4 DIPLOMATIC STAR April 2021 several international organi- zations and OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, Azer- baijan constantly made all efforts for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. The principal position of Azer- baijan on Kashmir issue is clear; Azerbaijan has always consistently supported the principle and legitimate posi- tion on Kashmir issue in ac- cordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and has supported the peace- ful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Unfortu- nately, Kashmir issue lasts more than seven decades and we hope and believe that with support and efforts by the in- ternational community this conflict will be resolved ami- cably soon, through mutual dialogue and understanding. DS: How do you see the over- all relations between two countries? Where you think we should work more? Ambassador: Azerbaijan and omous Republic of Nakhchivan, Pakistan enjoy excellent rela- Ambassador’s profile Azerbaijan tions based on bonds of broth- Date of Birth: June 21, 1978, Nakh- 2005-2010 -Head of Department erhood, shared history, culture, chivan city of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mutual respect and trust. Both Education: of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the countries have already 1994-1998 -Bachelor, Faculty of the Autonomous Republic of Na- reached strategic partnership Translation, Azerbaijan State Uni- khchivan, Azerbaijan at political level. But trade versity of Languages 2010-2016 -Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city and economic relations don’t 2005-2008 -Master, the Faculty of of Tabriz of the Islamic Republic match our political relations; State and Municipal Administra- tion, the Academy of Public Ad- of Iran therefore, we are now focused 2016- Ambassador Extraordinary on promoting trade relations ministration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Plenipotentiary of the Repub- that would yield highly bene- Work Experience: lic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Re- ficial results for the economies 2002-2003 -Leading consultant public of Pakistan of both the countries. on protocol affairs, Consular Sec- Awards: Covid-19 pandemic has caused tion of the Ministry of Foreign Af- 2009 - “The 90th Anniversary of some slowdown in trade ac- fairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan the Diplomatic Service Bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1919- tivities between the two coun- in the Autonomous Republic of 2009)” Jubilee Medal of the Re- tries, but after the coronavi- Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan 2003-2005 -Leading consultant on public of Azerbaijan rus pandemic will be settled 2014 -Honorary Employee of the down, I am sure that our bilat- protocol affairs, acting chief con- sultant on consular and legal af- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the eral trade will also get boosted. fairs, acting chief consultant on Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan is always interested visa-passport affairs, Consular De- 2019 -The Order “For Merit to the in developing regional connec- partment of the Ministry of For- Homeland” of the 3rd degree of tivity, transportation linkages eign Affairs of the Republic of Azer- the Republic of Azerbaijan and direct flights with Paki- baijan in the Autonomous Republic 2019 - “The 100th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Service Bodies of stan which will also give posi- of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan the Republic of Azerbaijan (1919- tive impacts to our economic 2005-2005 -Acting Head of De- partment, Head of Department, 2019)” Jubilee Medal of the Repub- and trade ties and soon after lic of Azerbaijan the slowdown of Covid-19 we Consular Department of the Min- istry of Foreign Affairs of the Re- Foreign Languages: English, Rus- are going to start direct flights public of Azerbaijan in the Auton- sian, Turkish, Persian DIPLOMATIC STAR 5 April 2021 as well as some mutually bene- regarding the restoration and the region will be carried out ficial projects between our two renovation of infrastructure both through public invest- countries.