Pakistan-Tunisia relations

Tunisia	Pakistan

Pakistan–Tunisia relations refer to bilateral relations between Pakistan and Tunisia. A number of framework agreements have been concluded between Pakistan and Tunisia in the spheres of trade, tourism, culture, information and industries. Both countries are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement and Group of 77. Pakistan has an embassy in Tunis and Tunisia has an embassy in Islamabad.

History

Diplomatic relations between both states were established in 1957. Pakistan opened its embassy in Tunis in 1958 at the Charges d' Affaires level which was later upgraded to that of Ambassador/Plenipotentiary in 1964. Tunisia introduced its embassy in Islamabad in 1980.

Pakistan supported Tunisia during its struggle for independence. Members of that generation who are still living fondly recall Pakistan's steadfastness for backing Tunisia's liberation movement. Between 1948 and 1954, Pakistan's first Foreign Minister, Sir Zafarullah Khan, represented Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council where he vociferously advocated for Tunisian freedom from colonial rule.

So were the contributions of renowned writer and diplomat, Patras Bokhari, lauded by the Tunisian government for his defence of Tunisian independence. During his tenure as Pakistan's Permanent Representative at the United Nations from 1951 to 1954, he delivered an epic speech on the floor of the Security Council for which a road was named after him by Tunisia right after its independence in 1956.

For its part, Tunisia has backed Pakistan in the Kashmir conflict but insomuch that it does not antagonize India, with whom it has fostered significant trade relations.^[1]

Bilateral relations

There exists also a long tradition of collaboration between the two countries in international organizations particularly at the United Nations, the OIC and NAM in terms of lending support to each other's stance and candidatures .^[2] Pakistan backed Tunisia on the issue of its complete control over Bizerte which the French colonial rulers eventually evacuated in 1960.

In 2005, when a deadly Earthquake struck the Muzaffarabad region of Pakistan, Tunisia sent a C-130 carrying 14 tons of relief supplies, including food, blankets and medical supplies to Pakistan.^[3]

In 2011 and 2014, Tunisia played host to Pakistani refugees fleeing the violence in neighboring Libya. This gesture has become a prominent feature of bilateral ties.

A friendship group exists between Pakistan's National Assembly and Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives. Upon the invitation of Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami, Ennahdha members visited Pakistan in 2014.

High level visits

Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto visited in January 1972. while Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto; and, Nawaz Sharif - also in his capacity as Prime Minister - toured Tunisia in May 1990 and February 1991 respectively. The last bilateral VVIP tour occurred when Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, was invited to Tunisia in July 2003. On the other hand, no VVIP tour has materialized from Tunisia although leaders of both nations interact at multilateral fora. Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Chatty represented his country at the Second OIC Summit which was organized in Lahore in February 1974.^[2]

Pakistan-Tunisia Friendship Association

This forum has been in existence since the mid-70s and is mandated with increasing bilateral goodwill and affinity through cultural, trade and social interaction.

Tunisia celebrated Pakistan-Africa Friendship Day on June 26, 2021, in Tunis.^[4]

See also

• Foreign relations of Pakistan
• Foreign relations of Tunisia

References

See also

• Foreign relations of Pakistan
• Foreign relations of Tunisia