Qureshi urges parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalatory steps

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday urged all the sides to exercise maximum restraint, avoid any further escalatory step and find ways for constructive engagement. As part of his trip to regional countries on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Riyadh and had an in-depth exchange of views on recent developments with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Monday, according to a Foreign Office press release. The foreign minister arrived in Saudi capital on the second leg of his two-nation visit as a day earlier, he visited Tehran where he held separate meetings with President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif and presented Pakistan’s firm stance on not siding with any conflict but peace. During the meeting with Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister shared in detail Pakistan’s perspective on the recent developments in the Middle East. He highlighted the thrust of his diplomatic outreach as part of Prime Minister’s direction that Pakistan must support all efforts aimed at avoiding conflict and resolving differences and disputes through political and diplomatic means. He apprised his Saudi counterpart about his telephonic conversations with the foreign ministers of regional countries, and other diplomatic contacts, noting an overwhelming level of support for efforts for de-escalation. Noting the serious implications for peace and security of recent events, the foreign minister underscored the need for all sides to exercise maximum restraint, avoid taking any further escalatory step, work for defusing tensions, and finding ways for constructive engagement. As ‘partner for peace’, the foreign minister stated, Pakistan will support all efforts for peace and provide all possible facilitation for constructive engagement among parties. He also thanked for Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for the Kashmir issue and exchanged views on deepening bilateral cooperation in economic and financial fields. The Saudi foreign minister reaffirmed the strategic importance of Saudi-Pakistan relations and the resolve to deepen mutual cooperation in all fields. In the regional context, the Saudi foreign minister welcomed Qureshi’s visit and Pakistan’s support for efforts to defuse tensions, preserve peace and security, and help find a diplomatic way forward. The two sides agreed to remain engaged and consult closely on issues affecting peace and security in the region and beyond. Qureshi left for Oman after completing his one-day visit to Saudi Arabia. Director General Protocol of Saudi Foreign Ministry Abdullah M Rashid, Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz and officials of the Pakistani embassy saw off the foreign minister at King Khalid International Airport. During his visit to Oman, the foreign minister will express condolences to the royal family on the death of the ruler of Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said who had breathed his last on Friday at age of 79. Earlier in the day, Iran welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the region as Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi paid a visit to the western neighbouring state in a bid to diffuse ongoing tension in the Gulf. “Since Iran believes dispute among Muslim states will not benefit anyone, Tehran welcomes Islamabad’s efforts to boost peace and stability in the region,” Iranian news agency IRNA on Monday quoted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as saying. Qureshi, on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday visited Iran on first leg of his two-nation tour and held meetings with leadership including President Rouhani, Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif and Governor General Mashad Khorasan Razavi. IRNA quoted President Rouhani as saying during his meeting with FM Qureshi that Iran-Pakistan boundary should be a ‘border of peace and friendship’, not letting certain groups to make it insecure. Pakistan’s Foreign Office in a statement issued Monday on conclusion of FM Qureshi’s visit to Iran said, “Iranian leadership appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s efforts aimed at reducing tensions and advancing the prospects of peace through facilitation of diplomatic and political means.” “President Dr Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif expressed appreciation for the Foreign Minister’s visit and stressed the importance Iran attached to its brotherly relations with Pakistan,” the statement read. In his meetings, Foreign Minister Qureshi reaffirmed the importance Pakistan attached to its close fraternal ties with Iran and reiterated the resolve to further strengthen historic, multifaceted relationship between the two countries. On Pakistan’s perspective on recent developments, the Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of ‘maximum restraint and immediate steps for de-escalation by all sides’. He reaffirmed that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used against anyone nor will become part of any war or conflict in the region. The foreign minister informed the Iranian leadership that despite complexity of issues involved, Pakistan will continue to work for peace in the collective interest of the region and the world. In this context, Pakistan will also continue to urge constructive engagement among all sides to preserve the peace and advance the prospects of a diplomatic solution, the FO statement mentioned quoting the foreign minister.