ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that at the beginning of the new year, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners.
The spokesperson said in a weekly briefing that Pakistan considers regional efforts to normalize the situation important and seeks a solution to the problem through dialogue between all parties.
According to Tahir Andrabi, a list of 257 Indian prisoners in Pakistan was handed over to India. He added that this exchange between the two countries is done twice a year, on January 1 and July 1, which is implemented under the Consular Access Agreement of 2008. Similarly, the annual exchange of lists of nuclear installations is also done on January 1.
The spokesperson said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Saudi Crown Prince recently had a telephonic conversation, in which the commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation was reiterated. Regional issues were also discussed on this occasion.
According to the spokesperson, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also had a conversation with the Saudi Foreign Minister, in which matters of mutual interest were discussed.
The Foreign Office further said that the President of the United Arab Emirates recently paid an official visit to Pakistan, during which discussions were held on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan considers strengthening relations with brotherly Islamic countries as an important part of its foreign policy.
