Warsaw will support Trump's Gaza peace efforts, FM says in Islamabad
Poland wishes to express its support for the initiatives of US President Donald Trump aimed at achieving peace in the Gaza Strip, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in the Pakistani capital on Thursday.
Sikorski made the statement at a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported on X.
The press conference followed a meeting between the two foreign ministers at the start of Sikorski's two-day visit to Pakistan.
The MFA said that the two had discussed bilateral cooperation, coordination in international organisations and the exchange of best practices in combating disinformation.
At the press conference, Sikorski mentioned the long-standing relationship between Warsaw and Islamabad, expressing hope that cooperation would continue during and beyond the Gaza peace mission.
"The idea (for peace in Gaza) is rather an Arab-Islamic initiative, but Poland would also like to at least show its flag there," the top diplomat said. "To show our support for the peace efforts of President Trump and others."
According to the MFA, Sikorski had also briefed Dar about the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, "where a migration crisis caused by a hybrid war waged by Belarus with Russia's support is ongoing," and pointed out that "Pakistani citizens are also being exploited in these activities.
"The Pakistani diaspora in Poland has been growing in recent years," the minister was quoted as saying. "It is still small, around 2,000 people, but I am pleased that a quarter of them are students... Poland remains open to legal migration and genuine studies for genuine students, but I want to emphasise that there is no tolerance for illegal immigration into Polish territory."
The two foreign ministries also signed a memorandum of cooperation, with a similar memorandum being signed between the Polish Institute of International Affairs and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, according to the Polish post on X.
Furthermore, Sikorski expressed Warsaw's willingness to continue cooperation with Islamabad in the trade and maritime economies, and energy, pointing to the fact that several Polish companies hold licenses to drill for natural gas in Pakistan.
The trip marks the first visit by a Polish top diplomat to Pakistan since August 2011, when Sikorski also held the post.
International forces expected to take part in the Gaza peace mission may include troops from Egypt, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and several Arab states, though final participation will require Israeli approval. (PAP)
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