ISLAMABAD: The convener of the Pakistan-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has strongly urged the lifting of the blockade against Cuba, terming it as an unjust action and an historic wrong which needs to be rectified immediately.

Talking to members of the Pakistan-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group in parliament on Monday, Senator Mushahid said that after the normalisation of Cuba-US relations, there was no justification for continuing with a policy, which, in any case, was unjust and contrary to accepted norms of conduct and normal behaviour amongst states.

He said that Pakistan and Cuba have very close ties which will be further strengthened with the upcoming visit of the high level Senate delegation to Cuba during the first week of November to be led by the Senate chairman.

Senator Mushahid also referred to the Cuban resolution on lifting the blockade which will be presented before the UN General Assembly on October 26. He added that all Pakistanis support the lifting of the blockade and seek a proactive role of Cuba in the international comity of nations.

He further underlined that Cuba under the leadership of Fidel Castro and President Raul Castro has been playing a leading role to promote, protect and preserve the interests of Third World countries by upholding the UN Charter and the principles of international law plus provide support to countries like Pakistan in the field of education and medical health.

He said that the people of Pakistan cannot forget the generous support of Cuba worth over $20 million to Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake. He added that Cuba had also offered scholarship to over 1,000 students in the field of medical health.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the visit of the Pakistan Senate delegation to Cuba in the first week of November would be quite a landmark visit in promoting and strengthening Pakistan-Cuba friendship and solidarity.