Qureshi invites input from opposition leaders on foreign policy matters

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday invited opposition leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the head of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) to provide input on foreign policy matters.

“I am willing to seek input from Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif and the chief of MMA on foreign policy, so there can be a bipartisan approach on important foreign policy matters,” Qureshi said while speaking on the floor of National Assembly.

The foreign minister thanked Bilawal and Shehbaz for demonstrating solidarity, saying, “This is the time to send the message that Pakistan is united.”

In response to Bilawal’s statement that Prime Minister Imran Khan took a risk releasing the Indian pilot early, he said the issue of releasing the pilot was discussed and done in Pakistan’s interest.

“We thought by doing this we would be signaling de-escalation. This signal went loud and clear and was appreciated worldwide. Everyone acknowledged Pakistan acted responsibly and immediately,” Qureshi said.

Responded to criticism of boycotting the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, he said this was an important issue which was debated and there were two opposing views in the house. Qureshi said he made the decision to not attend the OIC meeting as that was the will of the parliament.

“Pakistan’s interests were protected by officers from the Foreign Office at the meeting..... For the first time OIC accused India of state terrorism in Kashmir,” the minister asserted.

Further in response to Bilawal, he brought to the National Assembly’s attention that his government had been in office for six months and issues related to non-implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), FATF and economy had not been addressed by past governments.

“We have been in the office for only six months, his [Bilawal’s] allies were in office for four and a half years after that time. That question should have been put to the new allies why the NAP was not implemented,” Qureshi said.

“Pakistan went back on the grey-list when your close allies (PML-N) were in the government. And If I remember correctly, Pakistan was put on FATF blacklist and you know who was in government then.”

Commenting on the Nobel Peace Prize for Imran Khan, he said the prime minister himself had tweeted that he did not deserve this, rather the person who would resolve the Kashmir dispute should be rewarded with this.

The foreign minister said that praise should be given to both Hassan Siddiqui and Nouman Ali Khan who downed the Indian jets.