Middle East tensions: FM Qureshi meets Pompeo

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Friday and exchanged views on Pakistan-US bilateral relations and important regional and other matters of mutual interest.

The foreign minister, who was visiting the United States on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan in view of the tension in Middle East and the situation of peace and security in the region, briefed the US Secretary of State about the meetings during his recent visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia.

He said that Pakistan desired peace and stability in the region and was committed to play its role ending the prevailing tension in the region, a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said.

The minister apprising his US counterpart of the continued grave human rights violations by India in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) said that eight millions Kashmiris have been put under siege through curfew for the last over five months.

Qureshi said that Pak-US dream of a “peaceful South Asia” would remain elusive until the Kashmir issue was addressed in accordance with the UN resolutions and eight million Kashmiris were given the right of self-determination.

Qureshi said it was due to the joint peace efforts of Pakistan and the United States that after 40 years of long confrontation, the news of peace through political settlement was coming from Afghanistan.

He said that Pakistan was playing its sincere role for the common cause of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

FM Qureshi said that historically the joint efforts of Pakistan and the United States for the establishment of peace in South Asia have always been productive and beneficial for both the countries.

He said that there was a need to translate the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Donald Trump on the promotion of bilateral trade and investment between Pakistan and US into reality.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appreciated Pakistan for its sincere and mediatory efforts for a “political solution in Afghanistan”, “Afghan peace process” as well as for a peaceful neighborhood.

Iran seeks to lower tensions in region: FM Qureshi

Separately while speaking to reporters in Washington, Qureshi said he understood that the Iranians "did not want to escalate things."

"They don't want war, they don't want further bloodshed," Qureshi said.

The foreign minister said that the Iranian leadership has signalled a willingness to ease tensions with its Arab neighbors.

The Iranians "highlighted the issues, the differences, they have had with other important countries in the region," he said.

"They said they are willing to engage at any level and in any format," Qureshi said.

Pakistan will not join any war in the region, FM Qureshi tells Iran

Pakistan has already made it clear that it will not join anyone else's war.  Qureshi said last week that Pakistan will not join any war in the region but will continue to play a vibrant and positive role for establishment of lasting peace.

Qureshi made the remarks last week when he met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Prime Minister Imran Khan's instructions. 

In his meeting with the Iranian president, FM Qureshi called for "using the diplomatic means" to reduce the tension in the region and "resolve outstanding issues amicably and peacefully".