March 15, 2019
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is scheduled to travel to China on Sunday, sources informed Geo News, as the government has decided to hold a "strategic consultation" with Beijing.
The two friendly nations will be holding a dialogue to discuss the security situation in the South Asian region as well as the ongoing Indo-Pak tensions that fired up after the tragic Pulwama attack and air combat between the air forces of Islamabad and New Delhi.
Qureshi will be leaving for Beijing on Sunday, with the aforementioned "strategic consultation" to take place on Monday and Tuesday, the sources added.
The foreign minister is expected to apprise the Chinese leadership on the latest steps and measures that have been taken in light of the rising tensions between Pakistan and India. He will also meet his Chinese counterpart and various other top officials.
On Wednesday, China had vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution seeking a ban on the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, according to the Indian media.
The blocking of the resolution, jointly presented by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, seemed to have greatly disappointed New Delhi.
China had always demonstrated responsibility, been in contact with the parties on the resolution, and had always taken an appropriate stance, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry had said.
The concerned institutions will have to abide by the laws and procedure on this issue, he mentioned, adding that a solution to the issue should be acceptable to all parties.