Saudi FM Al-Jubeir's visit to Pakistan, India postponed: sources

The Faudi FM was due to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday night.

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Saudi Arabia s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir has postponed his visit to Pakistan and India, the Foreign Office sources told Dunya News on Saturday.

The Faudi FM was due to arrive in Islamabad tonight with an important message from the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he “spoke to the Saudi minister of state over the phone and he expressed his desire to visit Pakistan which I welcomed."

During the course of the phone conversation, Qureshi also briefed Al-Jubeir on India’s “aggressive posture” in the region.

According to sources, the Saudi Foreign Minister is likely to visit Pakistan after a week.

The Saudi minister s visit will be the first from the foreign minister of any country since tensions broke out between Pakistan and India.

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Earlier on Friday, Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani aircraft and captured after he ejected from jet, was set free by Pakistan as a peace gesture.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said he was "treated with dignity and in line with international law", and that his release was "aimed at de-escalating rising tensions with India".

Soon after his release, Indian forces continued unprovoked shelling and firing alon the Line of Control, resulting in martyrdom of four people including two soldiers.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule. Both claim it in full and have fought two wars over the Himalayan territory. India has half a million troops in the part it has occupied, with freedom fighters struggling for independence or a merger with Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died since a revolt that broke out in 1989. Last year was the deadliest in a decade with almost 600 killed, monitors say, sparking anger among locals.

Alarming the international community, tensions escalated after the February 14 suicide bombing in Indian Occupied Kashmir, with the attack allegedly claimed by JeM.

Twelve days later Indian warplanes launched a failed strike inside Pakistan, making a false claim to have hit a militant camp. Islamabad denied casualties or damage, but a day later launched its own incursion across the LoC. That sparked the dogfight which ended in destruction MiG-21 jet of Indian Air Force, and Abhinandan’s capture.

The tensions prompted Pakistan to close down its airspace, disrupting thousands of travellers worldwide. Its major airports reopened on Friday.