FM Qureshi telephones Iranian, Saudi, Turkish, UAE counterparts amid rising Mideast tensions
Iraqs foreign ministry summoned the US ambassador on back of repeated US air strikes on its soil.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Following the recent escalation of tensions between US and Iran, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday telephoned his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE and Turkey.
During the telephonic conversations, there was wide-ranging exchange of views on the unfolding situation in the region.
Highlighting Pakistan’s deep concern over the recent developments, the foreign minister underscored the imperative of avoidance of conflict, exercise of maximum restraint, and de-escalation of tensions.
He renewed the call on all parties concerned to abide by the UN Charter and principles of international law to settle differences through peaceful means.
Qureshi also reaffirmed that Pakistan would neither let its soil be used against any other State nor become part of any regional conflict.
Sharing Pakistan’s perspective, the foreign minister expressed the hope that the progress made in the Afghan peace process would be preserved and further advanced.
FM Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to continue to play a role in preventing further escalation and maintaining regional peace and stability.
On the other hand, Iraq’s foreign ministry summoned the US ambassador on the back of repeated US air strikes on Iraqi soil that killed Iraqi militia fighters and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muahndis.
The foreign ministry said the act was, “a flagrant breach of Iraq’s sovereignty and of all international laws and norms that regulate relations between countries and prohibit the use of their lands to carry out attacks on neighbouring countries.”
The foreign ministry said it sent an official complaint to the UN secretary general and UN Security Council over US air strikes and killing of Iraqi and allied commanders.
A US drone strike killed General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, at Baghdad’s international airport on Friday.
Several rockets fell on Saturday near the United States embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone which houses government buildings and foreign missions but caused no casualties, the Iraqi military said.
