No efforts being made to push Pakistan into Yemen conflict, says Qureshi
The minister laments efforts are made to unearth conspiracies, even if something good happens in country
February 13, 2019
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ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that no efforts were being made to push Pakistan into Yemen conflict.
He was speaking at a press conference alongside Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser to PM on Trade and Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.
Qureshi said when they took over the reins of the country, Pak-Saudi relations were strained.
"A vacuum was created in Pak-Saudi ties due to some reasons," he said, adding that the harmony in ties between the two countries would be witnessed during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to Pakistan.
The Saudi Crown Prince will arrive in Pakistan on February 16 for a two-day visit, according to the Saudi ambassador, and is expected to stay at the PM House.
During his stay, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will be signing a number of agreements and MoUs related to diverse sectors, including investment, finance, power, renewable energy, internal security, media, culture and sports.
The two countries will also discuss ways and means to develop a robust follow-up mechanism to ensure effective implementation and quick progress on tangible areas of cooperation.
The foreign minister said such a huge Saudi delegation would never have visited Pakistan before. He said the delegates would include Saudi ministers, heads of Saudi companies and high-ranking officials.
He lamented that even if something good happens, efforts are made to unearth conspiracies here.
"No effort is being made to push Pakistan into Yemen conflict, neither has Pakistan given any assurance to join the war," Qureshi said.
He said Saudi Arabia is interested in setting up an oil refinery in Pakistan, whereas it would also invest in minerals resources here.
"This investment is bilateral and has nothing to with CPEC," the minister said.
He also said that Pakistan would raise the matter of Pakistani nationals jailed in Saudi Arabia, however, this would not include countrymen involved in heinous crimes.
Speaking at the presser, Dawood said that $7 billion investment would be made in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia over the next two years. "Saudi investors are more interested in food and agriculture sectors," he added.
The information minister said this was the first time since the tenure of former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto that Pakistan was playing such a key role in the region.
