UN secretary general calls FM Qureshi, assures support amid India tensions

ISLAMABAD: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres telephoned Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday amid escalating tensions with India.

Qureshi said he told the UN secretary general that "India attacked Pakistan".

"A huge incident occurred on an international level," Qureshi told Guterres. "India violated the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan's borders." 

The foreign minister continued, "Indian forced dropped four bombs, but thankfully there was no loss of life. Contrary to Indian claims of having killed 300 people, not even one body was found."

Qureshi further told the UN secretary general, "India had claimed that they targeted terrorist camps and killed terrorists. However, when we went to the site of the claimed attack, we did not find a single body."

"If Pakistan forces had not responded timely then there could have been a huge loss," he added. "The violation of Indian aircraft is the political need and action of the Modi government."

"The Modi government is trying to fool the Indian nation and opposition to cover up his political losses," Qureshi asserted and added that the "Modi government is playing with regional peace and targeting innocent lives."

Further speaking about his telephonic conversation with the UN secretary general, Qureshi said he apprised Guterres of the prevailing situation and also mentioned the two letters he has written to him.

"I brought the matter of violation of UN Charter and international laws to the attention of the UN secretary general," he added. "I told Guterres that UN should play a role in the current situation."

"The UN secretary general assured of full cooperation and expressed concern over the situation," the foreign minister said. "Guterres said he will play whatever role he can."

"Guterres also inquired about Indian claims and I told him the truth," Qureshi maintained.

Turkish foreign minister phone call

The foreign minister said he also spoke to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"The Turkish foreign minister also sought to be briefed on the current situation," Qureshi said. 

"Cavusoglu clarified that Turkey is fully standing behind Pakistani people and government," he added. "The Turkish foreign minister said the prayers and cooperation of Turks are with their Pakistani brothers and sisters."

"We believe India has committed aggression against a brother Islamic country and attacked a founding member of the OIC," Qureshi quoted Cavusoglu as saying.

"The Turkish foreign minister said there is no reason for Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to attend the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and Turkey will fully oppose her invitation and opportunity to address," he added.