ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Kuwait and Pakistan celebrated the 60th anniversary of establishing the Kuwait-Pakistan diplomatic relations through a photo exhibition in Islamabad on Tuesday. Addressing the event at the Pakistan Foreign Office, Kuwait Ambassador to Pakistan Nassar Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi conveyed the best regards of the State of Kuwait, its leadership, government and people, to Pakistan. “The history of relations between the two countries goes back to a long time before these 60 years and I do not exaggerate if I say from the beginning of the 19th century, through the port of Karachi city, which was a main hub of trade in the region,” he said. He added that the two countries enjoyed stable and growing relations, and were characterized by the two countries standing by each other.

He recalled that Pakistan stood by the Kuwaiti right in 1990, during the Iraqi invasion and Kuwait stood by Pakistan in the events of the 2005 earthquake, the 2010 floods and the recent floods. The Ambassador also mentioned that Pakistan stood by the State of Kuwait and supported it during the Covid-19 pandemic by sending specialized medical teams. “We are looking forward to developing relations between our two countries, which are moving in the right direction, and there is a common well to develop these distinguished relations and cooperation to wider horizons,” said Al-Mutairi. “I would like to convey the thanks and greetings for the kind preparation of this great ceremony on this occasion, which will be a motivation for us in both countries to launch this relationship on more solid foundations in the future,” he concluded.

On his part, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said that Pakistan looks forward to enhancing relations with the brotherly country of Kuwait in all areas of mutual interest especially health, skilled manpower, IT, food and security. Khar pointed out that Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company continues to be an important force to bind the businesses between the two countries and create opportunities.

The Minister further said that the Pakistani community in Kuwait has played a pivotal role in further solidifying the bonds of cooperation, adding that both the countries have stood by each other in difficult times. She recalled the sending of Pakistani medical teams to Kuwait during the Covid-19 pandemic saying that this has opened the doors of more cooperation in the medical field. She expressed hope that Kuwait’s liberalization of visa regime for Pakistani businessmen and skilled professionals will immensely boost our mutually beneficial ties in future. The Kuwaiti Ambassador presented the Pakistani Minister with a gift of a model of ship in connection with the anniversary celebrations that would mark a number of high-level events and exchanges throughout the year. (KUNA)