ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will arrive in Abu Dhabi on Friday and address a press conference.
According to reports, Qureshi was scheduled to arrive in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, however, it was postponed due to the escalating tensions in the region.
In addition to that, it is not yet known if the foreign minister is in Abu Dhabi to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers scheduled to be held from March 1-2.
Earlier, FM Qureshi expressed apprehension over the participation of his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in the OIC moot scheduled to be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month.
In a brief chat with reporters, the foreign minister had said he has relayed these concerns to the UAE government which had invited Swaraj as a guest speaker for the inaugural session of the conference.
“India was neither a member of the OIC nor an observer,” said Qureshi, adding Pakistan should have been consulted before sending out such an invitation.
He, however, didn’t rule out a meeting with Indian FM, saying he was ready to meet his counterpart but the OIC moot was not the [right] place.
In response to a question regarding the closure of Pakistan’s airspace, the foreign minister said, “The airspace has been closed for national and passenger security. It was SOP [standard operating procedure]. We want the airspace to open at the earliest.”
Earlier in the day, Qureshi gave an interview to Geo News, where he had suggested Pakistan was ready to release Indian pilot if it would help ease tensions.
His statement was endorsed by the prime minister in a joint session of parliament. “Pakistan will release Indian pilot on Friday,” said Imran Khan as he extended an olive branch to India.
“Our wish is peace and stability is our top priority,” he maintained.
In a comment on dossier given by India to Pakistani high commissioner, the foreign minister said Pakistan will examine the dossier, but there was no need to attack if they had given it earlier and waited for Pakistan’s response.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that a dossier was received from India regarding the Pulwama incident.
Talking on Pakistan’s participation in the OIC meeting, the spokesman clarified that if Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the session, Pakistan’s foreign minister will not show up in the meeting.
He said both the countries have been in touch with the world community over the situation, adding that Pakistan has clarified its position with the countries talking about the allegations of terrorism.
“If there is an issue of terrorism, still India has no right to violate the border. If any legal justification being given for it then Pakistan could also do so,” the spokesman said.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have escalated dramatically after a suicide bomber struck an Indian paramilitary convoy in Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The attack had left 44 personnel dead.
India claimed Jaish-e-Mohammed was behind the attack and intruded into Pakistan airspace to bomb an alleged JeM camp on Feb 26.
The attack prompted a strong response from Pakistan. It warned against “uncalled for aggression” and decided that the country would respond at a “time and place of its choosing”.
Next day, it launched airstrike within Indian-held Kashmir and also shot down two fighter jets that attempted to violate Pakistani airspace, capturing an Indian pilot as well.
The military’s media wing later released a video of the pilot, who introduced himself as Wing Commander Abhinandan bearing service number 27981.
PM Imran while addressing a joint session of Parliament on Thursday announced, Pakistan will release the captured IAF pilot on Friday as a gesture of peace towards New Delhi and a step showing de-escalation in favour of regional peace.
