Iran, Saudi Arabia ready for talks to defuse tensions: FM Qureshi
The foreign minister said that Pakistan has friendly relations with Riyadh and Tehran.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that Iran is ready for dialogues with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to defuse tensions.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that the worsening of Saudi Arabia and Iran s relations will have a profound impact, adding that Tehran said it did not want tensions with Riyadh.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan has friendly relations with Riyadh and Tehran, adding that the recent visit of the Prime Minister Imran Khan to both countries.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan conveyed positive sentiments of Iranian leadership, Pakistan s point of view, and regional situation to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
He expressed the confidence that now any threat of conflict is fading away.
Regarding Kashmir, he said that former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah s daughter Safia and sister Suraya were detained by Indian occupation forces and shifted to Srinagar’s central jail, as they tried to stage a protest demonstration in the heart of Srinagar city against the scrapping of J&K’s special status.
He said women’s protests in Srinagar have proved that a new wave is emerging, adding that the Indian forces also tortured the protesting females and used pellet guns and tear gas to disperse protesters.
The foreign minister said that Imran Khan also highlighted the grave human rights situation in the held valley after illegal act of 5 August, when Indian revoked special status of Kashmir.
Qureshi went on to say that Pakistan is fighting Kashmiris battle at the international fora and at this critical juncture there should be unified voice from home and any internal matter may harm this struggle, adding that India restored postpaid mobile service and within 24 hours, it has to suspend its SMS service, which indicate grim situation in the occupied Kashmir.
He thanked the leadership of Iran and Saudi Arabia for supporting Pakistan s stance over Kashmir.
regarding internal political and law and order situation in the country, Qureshi said a meeting of the core committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was held in Islamabad with Prime Minister Imran in the chair today.
He said the government is ready to engage with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and any other political leader to sort out political issues peacefully, adding that we are democratic people and want to handle political issues on the dialogue table.
"A committee under the leadership of Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak has been formed to engage with JUI-F Ameer Maulana Fazlur Rehman to find a reasonable way out to ensure economic stability in the country, unified voice for Kashmiris rights, and hold local bodies elections," the foreign minister said.
"The government is also going to hold first phase of local bodies elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in February next year."
To a question, he said Pakistan s relations with the United States have greatly improved and today it is also eager to receive a call from Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Responding to another question on Financial Action Task Force, the Foreign Minister said Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, who is in Paris, is leading Pakistan s side to convince the world about effective steps taken by Islamabad to control terror financing.
He expressed the hope that India will not succeed in its nefarious designs to get Pakistan black listed with FATF.
Earlier today, Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif appreciated efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan for peace and stability in the region.
In a tweet, he expressed gratitude to Imran Khan for his efforts to promote peace in the region.
The Iranian foreign minister invited leaderships of all the regional countries to work in unison for peace, security and prosperity of the region.
The statement of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif comes on the heels of Imran Khan s visit to Tehran and Riyadh to bring countries in the region closer to each other.
