On the second day of his three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi declared that Pakistan’s facilitation led to the US-Taliban peace agreement and subsequent intra-Afghan talks and expressed hope that Afghan parties will work constructively to achieve the common goal of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Afghanistan.
Furthermore, Qureshi emphasized Pakistan’s consistent policy of improving bilateral relations and facilitating the Afghan peace process. He affirmed that Pakistan supports the reconciliation in Afghanistan and progress in the peace process. I hope to meet FM Atmar at the Istanbul Conference, Qureshi sent out a tweet.
Moreover, Mr Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s clear policy of supporting an orderly and responsible withdrawal of foreign troops. He further addressed the ongoing peace process and the US announcement to withdraw forces. Qureshi also invited Mr Atmar to visit Pakistan after the Istanbul meeting to continue close consultations.
Pakistan Can’t Ignore the Kashmir Issue
Separately, FM Qureshi clarified that he had no plans to meet with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar but expressed willingness to speak with Delhi if it reversed its August 5 actions, stating that Pakistan could not ignore the Kashmir issue.
Islamabad and New Delhi agreed in February to put an end to all shooting along the contested border. An exchange of letters between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart is another indication of progress.
India and Pakistan Foreign Ministers Visiting UAE
In continuation, the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan paid reciprocal visits to the UAE this weekend. This was just days after the UAE’s envoy to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, announcement. Otaiba stated that the Gulf country had helped “to put the Kashmir escalation down and hopefully establish a ceasefire.”
During his visit to Dubai, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that both India and Pakistan would reconsider their bilateral relations. He stressed that Pakistan never evaded talks and wanted to line in peace with all his neighbours, including India. However, he made it clear that he had no plans to meet with his Indian counterpart.
PAK and UAE Friendship
Mr Qureshi addressed a press conference after touring the Pakistan pavilion at World Expo-2020, which will take place later this year. He described the mega event as a watershed moment for the UAE and the country. The appearance of a Pakistan pavilion at the international expo was a symbol of Pakistan and the UAE’s decades-long friendship. He added that it demonstrated the two countries strengthened economic relations and bilateral cooperation.
He expressed the hope that his visit to the UAE would improve bilateral relations. Further, he announced that he would meet with his UAE counterpart on Monday.
Talking about the World Expo, Mr Qureshi stated that professionals from the Pakistani community in the UAE would be invited to the World Expo. He said he would also invite Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to the mega event because the two countries were working on separate programs.
According to a press release, the foreign minister was accompanied on the tour by the Pakistan ambassador to the UAE Afzal Mahmood, consul general in Dubai Ahmad Amjad Ali, and other senior embassy officials.
Earlier, on his arrival in Dubai late Saturday night he tweeted: “Good to be in the #UAE.”
On the occasion of the Expo, he also said that the government intended to grant overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. “We want that overseas Pakistanis should have a role in Pakistani politics and policymaking.”
