Pakistan, Russia agree to prevent outer space from weaponisation
Pakistan and Russia Wednesday signed a Joint Statement on 'No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space', expressing commitment to prevent outer space from becoming an arena of military confrontation.
The Joint Statement was signed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organizations's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a Foreign Office statement said.
It said the outer space was being used by an increasing number of states and Pakistan consistently highlighted the risks of weaponization which threatened the long term sustainability of peaceful space activities.
"Pakistan and Russia have reiterated their commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force in outer space activities. We encourage other responsible space-faring nations to follow this example," the FO said. The FO said Pakistan had consistently highlighted the risks from weaponisation of outer space as it threatens the long term sustainability of peaceful space activities.
"The use of force against spacebased objects, the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems and their integration into space assets have added worrying dimensions to the issues relating to outer space," the statement said.
It further pointed out that there is an urgent need to address the gaps in the international legal regime governing the exploration and use of outer space. The world needs to ensure "that no one threatens peaceful activities and applications of space technologies for socio-economic development," the statement said.
Also on Wednesday, Qureshi met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers' eeting. According to Associated Press of Pakistan, both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, the security situation in the region and other important issues of mutual interest.
A Foreign Office statement said Qureshi described China as Pakistan's dearest friend and strongest ally in the meeting, and said that friendship with China is a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. "Whether it's a matter of Pakistan's national security, or regional peace and stability, China has always played a significant role," Qureshi told Yi during the meeting. He also congratulated the Chinese foreign minister on the success of the second Belt and Road Forum, saying that it was evidence of the international community's confidence in China's policies.