ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of France Nicolas Galey says that both Pakistan and France are desirous of a fresh start in bilateral relations.

In an interview, Mr Galey, who took office earlier this year, said: “There is a mutual will to turn the page.”

Relations between Pakistan and France became strained in October 2020 over President Emmanuel Macron’s backing for ‘blasphemous caricatures’ following the murder of Samuel Paty, a high-school teacher.

Ties got particularly frayed after then prime minister Imran Khan accused President Macron of encouraging anti-Muslim sentiments.

Ties between Pakistan and France became strained after Macron accused of backing ‘anti-Muslim sentiment’

Religious group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan held violent protests demanding expulsion of the French diplomat and the matter was referred to parliament.

In April 2021, the French embassy in Islamabad advised the French nationals living in Pakistan and business companies to leave because of threats to interests of France.

Mr Galey believes that the bad patch in ties was related to “specific events” and both sides now want to get past it.

“That (episode) belongs to the past and I think everybody wishes that it belongs to the past,” he said, adding that the two countries wished that it would no longer be a problem in the bilateral relations.

He recalled that the fence-mending process had begun under the PTI government and the current administration had carried it forward.

“I was received by the foreign secretary the day after my arrival (in January), I could present my credentials very quickly afterwards and all the contacts I had within the government, obviously the previous government, but that has continued with the new one,” he said.

Former prime minister Imran Khan had in one of his interviews in February said that his government had begun the process for appointing Pakistan’s ambassador in Paris. The position fell vacant in 2020 summer after Ambassador Moinul Haq was transferred to China because of the caricature row.

The process was started afresh after the new government took office and reportedly the government would be announcing the appointment of the ambassador to France soon.

Federal minister Naveed Qamar visited Paris towards the end of May — just ahead of elections and signed an agreement on diversification of trade and economic relations.

In a related development, Pakistan and France had on June 27 signed an agreement for the suspension of repayment of loans amounting to $107 million under the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative.

In the middle of June, Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa made an unannounced three-day visit to Paris from June 13 to 16 for attending Eurosatory, a defence trade exhibition. He also held bilateral meetings during the visit, which Ambassador Galey confirmed.

“We were very happy to have Gen Bajwa participating in this exhibition,… he must have had some bilateral engagements on the sideline as well,” he said, adding that this was, however, “not the moment where big decisions are taken”.

Souring of ties because of blasphemous caricatures may have got the spotlight, but Islamabad’s unhappiness with Paris started much before that — and it was over French Rafael deal with India.

Protesting over the deal, the Foreign Office had on the occasion of the delivery of first batch of jets in July 2020 had accused the West of “aiding and abetting” Indian arms build-up through “exemptions, waivers and supply of advanced equipment, technology and weapons for its narrow commercial interests”. Pakistan too has defence cooperation with France, which focusses on military training, exchange and transfer of expertise.

Ambassador Galey said: “cooperation in the field of defence with Pakistan is continuing and there is absolutely no interruption or move or intention to change the current situation in this area of cooperation”.

In the midst of this re-engagement, Paris, which in 2018 was the one of the major backers of the move to get Pakistan grey- listed by Financial Action Task Force, acknowledged the progress made by Islamabad on checking illicit financing.

That helped at the last FATF plenary which concluded that Pakistan had “substantially completed” the two action plans, and an on-site visit by a technical team was approved.

The French envoy said: “There were no particular French reservations in the last phase, but again it’s a collective decision so those who continue to have reservations of course has fully the right to ask for more.”

Getting a new deal on the GSP+ status will be a bit more complicated.

Pakistan’s GSP+ status, which gives it preferential access to EU markets with zero duty on several products, is set to expire on December 31, 2023.

“There is a process of renegotiation. It’s not only a rollover or continuation of the previous agreement since the principles and the basis of GSP plus have been changed. It means it’s not only just to continue the previous agreement but it’s to sign a new agreement,” he said and noted that France wouldn’t be of much help at the negotiations stage as those will be conducted by Pakistan with the European Commission and other institutions.

France would, however, support any scheme that helps Pakistan improve and develop its economy, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2022