–FM Qureshi says he briefed Chinese leadership about ongoing Afghan peace talks
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has asked the world community to take notice of India’s double standards on the issue of terrorism.
Addressing media briefing here at Foreign Office on Thursday, he said on one hand, India is blaming Pakistan for Pulwama incident without any proof while on the other, its court has acquitted all the four accused in Samjhauta Express train attack, in which forty-four innocent Pakistanis were gunned down.
He said the decision is shocking as the main accused, Swami Aseemanand, had himself confessed to his crime. He said Pakistan strongly protested on this development and gave a demarche to India.
He said India’s reaction to the Christchurch attack also demonstrates New Delhi’s double standards as it did not even mention the words Muslims or mosques while condemning the attack. He said India seeks representation at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) despite its double standards on the issue of terrorism.
He said it is due to these double standards that the world community is not giving any value to the Indian narrative. He said that the post-Pulwama situation in the region has once again proved that China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan and it stands by Pakistan like a rock.
He said Pakistan has received dossier from India about the Pulwama incident and it will show to the world whatever its findings are. He said that China will hold the Belt and Road Forum on April 25, which besides heads of state and government of thirty-six countries, will also be attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The minister said Pakistan will have a key role in the conference because China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. He said it was for the first time that he held a strategic dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during his recent visit to Beijing, with the objective to upgrade political consultations between the two countries.
He said he also briefed the Chinese leadership about the ongoing talks for the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
About relations with the United States, the foreign minister said it is encouraging that President Donald Trump, Zalmay Khalilzad and other senior US officials are speaking of improvement in relations with Pakistan.
About the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, he said the visiting dignitary will be accompanied by a large delegation, including businessmen and other key senior officials. The visit will further boost the existing exemplary relations between Pakistan and Malaysia.
Qureshi said the tragic incident of attacks on mosques in New Zealand resulted in the martyrdom of fifty people, including nine Pakistanis. He lauded the behavior of the New Zealand government, particularly Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, in the wake of this attack.
He also appreciated the courage and bravery of the New Zealand national of Pakistani origin, Naeem Rashid, who tried to save fellow Muslims by laying down his life.
