By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that India can sabotage regional peace to divert attention from its internal failures.
Talking to Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan in Islamabad, he said Pakistan has been continuously apprising the global community about peace and security in the region.
He underscored that durable peace and stability in Afghanistan are inevitable for development and progress of the region.
The foreign minister said Pakistan played a reconciliatory role in the Afghan peace process with utmost sincerity, which was commended by the entire world. He expressed the resolve that the country will continue its efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
They also exchanged views on the Afghan peace process and regional peace and stability.
Besides, Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a statement said India is interfering in Balochistan at the same time it is also adversely affecting peace efforts in Afghanistan. He added he apprised United States (US) Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad about Indian intentions.
He said terrorists involved in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) attack wanted to take people hostage, but Pakistani security personnel successfully foiled their bid. He maintained India wants incidents of terrorism to divert world attention. He said it is India that orchestrated the drama of Pulwama attack.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephone conversation with European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday, media reported.
During the telephone call, the two top diplomats discussed a range of matters, including bilateral ties, situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic and peace process in war-torn Afghanistan.
Underscoring the need for collective efforts on Afghan peace, FM Qureshi said that restoration of peace in Afghanistan is vital for stability in the region.
Exchanging views on the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions, the foreign minister briefed top EU diplomat about the latest situation in Pakistan as well as the steps being taken by the government to cope with the challenge.
He also apprised Josep Borrell about the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for global initiative for debt relief for developing countries. FM Qureshi expressed grief over loss of precious lives due to the COVID-19 in EU.
Earlier today, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue to play its reconciliatory role in the establishment of durable peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
Talking to US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad who called on him in Islamabad today, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that Pakistan was ready to cooperate with regional and international stakeholders for a peaceful political solution to the Afghan issue.
