Islamabad - Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said it is tragic and unacceptable that the people of Palestine and Kashmir are still awaiting the fulfilment of their inalienable right to self-determination.
According to Foreign Office, the Advisor stated this while addressing the Asian-African Summit 2015 in Jakarta on Thursday. Sartaj Aziz recalled that a major focus of the 1955 Bandung Conference was respect for fundamental human rights, including the right to self-determination.
The Asian-African Summit 2015 is being held in Jakarta in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference held in Bandung in 1955. Pakistan was one of the co-sponsors of the 1955 conference.  The Adviser said the Asian and African countries should strengthen cooperation and make collective efforts to overcome the continuing challenges of peace and development.
He said that Asia and Africa should work together to evolve a strong, inclusive, and equitable post-2015 development agenda, including the new sustainable development goals with principal focus on poverty eradication and sustainable development. The cooperation will play a critical role in development of Asia and Africa.
The two continents represented 75% of the world’s population but only 30% of the global GDP. He underscored the significance of regional and bilateral trade arrangements within the global south, and called for enhanced targeted support for Least Developed, Landlocked Developing, and Small Island Developing States to enable them to meet their development goals.
The Adviser highlighted Pakistan’s strong resolve to fight the menace of terrorism, and the intensified actions in this regard through operation Zarb-e-Azb.  He said that as the biggest victims of terrorism, Asian and African countries must share their experiences and strengthen collaboration to defeat terrorism comprehensively, including by addressing its root causes and deploying a more effective counter narrative.
The Adviser will also participate in the Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference, to be held in Bandung on 24 April.