Pakistan conveyed reservations to OIC over invite to India's foreign minister, says Qureshi
PM Imran is ready to hold talks with Modi if he is willing, says foreign minister
February 28, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said that Pakistan has conveyed reservations over Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's presence at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting scheduled next month.
Qureshi said: "India is neither a member of OIC nor an observer," in a brief talk with journalists.
"The host country had invited the Indian foreign minister as a guest speaker for one inaugural session. I have spoken to the UAE minister and apprised him of Pakistan's reservations and told him that he should have spoken to us before inviting Swaraj," he said.
The foreign minister said that he is not hesitant to meet the Indian counterpart but OIC is not the forum for talks with Swaraj.
In response to a question regarding closure of Pakistan's airspace, the foreign minister said, "The airspace has been closed for national and passenger security. It was SOP. We want the airspace to open at the earliest."
Earlier, while speaking to Geo News, the foreign minister said, "I have just received the [Indian] dossier and have not gotten the chance to examine it. We briefed parliamentary leaders last night, there was a meeting of the cabinet. There is the joint session. I will still say that we will see and examine the dossier with an open heart. I wish they [India] would have sent this dossier earlier. They attacked first and then sent the dossier. If they would have sent the dossier first and sought Pakistan’s answer there would be no need for an attack.”
“If there is de-escalation with the return of this [Indian] pilot, Pakistan is willing to consider this. We are ready for all positive engagement," he added.
The foreign minister further said, "Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to Narendra Modi on the telephone and ready to extend an invitation of peace. Is Modi ready?”
Asserting that Pakistan has been calling for peace since day one, Qureshi said, "If India wants to talk about terrorism then we are ready."
"You [India] want to risk regional stability for politics," he said and added that "it could be the need of politics but history will not forgive you".
"Our wish is peace and stability is our top priority," he maintained.
Qureshi questioned, "God forbid there is a war, Pakistan will be affected but will India's economy not suffer?"
The foreign minister further stated, "I have received a message that the Saudi foreign minister is departing for Pakistan."
Lamenting that India rejected talks with Pakistan earlier, Qureshi said, "Had Indian foreign minister held talks with me in New York, I would have told her this is a Naya Pakistan."
Regarding Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj attending the meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) next month, Qureshi said, "India is neither a member of OIC nor an observer."
"The host country had invited the Indian foreign minister as a guest speaker for one inaugural session. I have spoken to the UAE minister and apprised him of Pakistan's reservations and told him that he should have spoken to us before inviting Swaraj."
In response to a question regarding closure of Pakistan's airspace, the foreign minister said, "The airspace has been closed for national and passenger security. It was SOP. We want the airspace to open at the earliest."
"I will not hesitate to meet but OIC is not the forum for talks with Swaraj," Qureshi asserted.
The foreign minister, while speaking to a private news channel this morning, once again invited India for talks and said dialogue is the only civilised way forward. “If India showed aggression, we showed defence,” Qureshi asserted.
Stating that “we are not stuck in the past,” Qureshi said, “We want peace in the region. There is no growth from war, only a decline in happiness.”
The foreign minister continued, “India cannot solve the Kashmir issue through strength. We are ready to talk on the issues of Kashmir and terrorism with India. They can come and sit down and we will have a dialogue."
Upholding that war is not the solution, FM Qureshi added, “After destruction, you also have to sit down for talks. Civilised dialogue is the only way forward.”
“India’s policy is not beneficial anymore. We are losing Kahsmiris,” he stressed.
The foreign minister also welcomed US President Donald Trump's statement on Pakistan and India tensions.
Trump says received 'attractive news', hopeful Pakistan and India will end tensions
Addressing a news conference in Hanoi after a meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, the US president opened his remarks by discussing the situation with India and Pakistan. "We have reasonably attractive news from Pakistan and India," he said.
"They have been going at it and we have been involved in trying to have them stop and we have some reasonably decent news hopefully that will be coming to an end. It’s been going on for a long time for decades and decades. There is a lot of dislike unfortunately so we have been in the middle trying to help them both out, see if we can get some organisation and some peace. And I think that is probably going to be happening,” the US president said.
Ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism: PM
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet and said Pakistan is ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism, sources said.
The premier said, "Dialogue is the only way for peace and stability in the region."
"I had made an offer to India to investigate the Pulwama attack and hold dialogue on bilateral issues," sources quoted the premier as telling cabinet members.
PM Imran took cabinet members into confidence regarding the plan of action as tensions with India escalate. A twelve-point agenda, including the current security situation, was discussed during the meeting ad the ministers of foreign affairs and defence briefed the cabinet members on Indian aggression, sources said.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also briefed the cabinet members on his conversations and efforts with diplomats and the international community.
The cabinet members said the entire nation is united and ready for Pakistan's defence. The cabinet members lauded Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in the wake of Indian aggression, sources added.
Samjotha Express suspended
Pakistan authorities suspended operations of the Samjotha Express. The Foreign Office in a statement said, "The operation of Samjhuta Express has been suspended today, in view of the prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India."
Samjhuta Express will resume its operations as soon as the security situation improves between India and Pakistan, it added.
The train which runs between Lahore and Atari was scheduled to depart today (Thursday) at 8am. Additional General Manager Pakistan Railways said the decision to suspend the train service was taken to avert any untoward incident in light of heightened security concerns.
