Governor Faisal Karim Kundi highlights successful diplomatic and welfare meetings in Spain and Belgium
Barcelona: Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, has said that his recent visit to Spain included productive engagements with senior political and government leaders, including the Spanish Foreign Minister and the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Speaking at a press conference in Barcelona alongside leaders of the Pakistan Federation Spain—Ayaz Abbasi, Pervaiz Jani, Raja Mukhtar Soni, European Kashmir Council Chairman Ali Raza Syed, and PPP Spain President Chaudhry Ishtiaq—Kundi said his schedule had to be shortened due to devastating floods back home. However, he emphasized that during his meetings, discussions covered climate change, bilateral cooperation, and strengthening mutual relations.
He praised Spain for consistently supporting Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and Palestine, recalling that Madrid had also sided with Islamabad during times of conflict with India. In Brussels, he held meetings with international relief organizations to accelerate rehabilitation efforts for flood victims. He also confirmed an upcoming meeting with the UK-based charity, Muslim Hands, to explore expanded collaboration in relief work.
Kundi noted that overseas Pakistanis have always stood with their homeland during difficult times, expressing hope that they would once again come forward to help flood-affected families. He listened to concerns raised by overseas communities and assured them that he would advocate for their issues at every relevant forum.
The governor appreciated the support extended by Pakistani embassies in Belgium and Spain during his trip. He further highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is seeking Spanish cooperation to promote tourism and expand opportunities for Pakistani students in higher education.
He revealed that the question of dual nationality for Pakistanis in Spain was also raised during his discussions, expressing optimism about positive developments on the matter. Kundi added that improving the soft image of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of his top priorities and that he has invited the Governor of Catalonia to visit the province.
On the issue of new provinces, he stressed that the matter should be decided on administrative grounds rather than ethnic or political preferences. He criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s statement that no external help was needed, asking whether the province truly had the capacity and resources to rebuild destroyed districts and highways.
Commenting on security, Kundi said that while it is not difficult to respond to terrorists, the real challenge is their use of civilians as human shields. On India, he remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains in shock following military defeats and continues to struggle with the consequences.