FM Qureshi, Saudi counterpart discuss matters of mutual interest
Last updated on: 07 March,2019 05:45 pm
They discussed matters of mutual interest, including Pak-India tension and regional peace.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad on Thursday.
They discussed matters of mutual interest, including Pak-India tension and regional peace.
The Saudi State Minister is on a day-long visit to Pakistan at the direction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and his tour aims at bringing the tense environment between Pakistan and India to normalcy.
Talking to him, the Foreign Minister welcomed the mediation offer from Saudi Crown Prince to deescalate the tensions between Pakistan and India.
Both foreign ministers agreed to implement the steps to promote two-way economic, political and security cooperation under Pak-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council.
Adel al-Jubeir also assured Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Saudi Arabia s full cooperation to settle all the outstanding issues between Pakistan and India peacefully.
‘Warmongering’ attitude of India
The Saudi FM was scheduled to visit Pakistan and India last week, however due to the ‘warmongering’ attitude of India, his visit had been postponed.
Pakistan FM Qureshi in his talk during the programme “Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Saath”, disclosed that Adel al-Jubeir will visit Pakistan today (Thursday) for playing a constructive role in deescalating simmering tensions between Pakistan and India.
“God forbid, if India still chooses a path of aggression against Pakistan, Pakistan is ready for self-defense,” he went on to say.
“Pakistan is moving towards development and prosperity, and we hope for peace in Afghanistan,” he said, adding that Pakistan has given three ‘signals’ to India including return of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood, who was recalled from New Delhi after the Pulwama attack.
He said Pakistan is ready to resume communication between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries.
Concerning the upcoming general election 2019 in India, the FM said, “It is political compulsion of Narendra Modi as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) considers that it would lose vote bank if relations with Pakistan were improved. But, Pakistan will strive to facilitate the peace process in the region.”
He said United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been playing constructive role in defusing conflict between Pakistan and India.
Furthermore, he lauded China and Russia for offering mediation. “China is our friendly country and so they are consulted on various matters,” he added.
He also expressed his gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan.