We want relations with United States on equality basis- Shah Mehmood

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the United Nations (UN) should constitute 'Commission of Inquiry' to probe atrocities being committed in held Kashmir on the basis of a report recently presented by the UN Human Rights Commission.
While addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that the Kashmir issue got limelight following the presentation of the UNHR report.He said Pakistan had always exposed brutalities of Indian army in the held Kashmir and raised voice for Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
Now, the UN report had validated Pakistan's stance on Indian aggression and cruelties in Kashmir, he added.
The minister said that the UN was the best forum to resolve all international issues.Pakistan wished that the UN should become more effective for the resolution of the world issues.He said that he met the UN Secretary General and urged him to constitute a Commission of Inquiry to probe Indian atrocities in held Kashmir.
Responding to a question about Pakistan's relations with neighbors, the FM stated that it was the wish of every country that it should have good relations with the neighboring countries.
He said that Pakistan wanted good relations with India.He said that restoration of talks was the best option to resolve all regional issues including poverty, education, and construction of dams.
He asked whether there was any other way out other than talks to resolve issues between Pakistan and India.He said Pakistan extended offer of negotiations to India as a goodwill gesture.India agreed for talks but soon after it back-tracked on his pledge.
Responding to another query that the PTI used to criticise the previous government whenever it tried to hold talks with India, he said the PTI never criticised talks for peace.
He said that holding talks for the peace process was different from the relations for personal businesses.
Pakistan also expressed its proposal to open border for Sikh pilgrims, he stated.
There are many Sikh holy sites in the country.  Similarly, Pakistan also wishes to visit shrines in India. There are some Buddhist sites in Pakistan. The proposal could help promote tourism.
About his recent tour of the UN General Assembly session, he said that he presented Pakistan's viewpoint in an effective manner.
To a question about any output of the recent visit of America, the foreign minister said that he observed a change in the attitude of America.
Earlier, the US was criticising Pakistan and issuing warnings on public forums.
He said that he presented Pakistan's viewpoint to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
He added that the relations between Pakistan and the US were improving gradually.
Qureshi remarked that he tried his level best that Pakistan services for promotion of peace be acknowledged at international level.
The foreign minister hailed people for appreciating him over the presentation of Pakistan's viewpoint in a better way at the UN General Assembly session.
Responding to another question about Shehbaz Sharif arrest, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and courts were independent institutions.
The cases were not initiated during the PTI government but in the tenure of the last government.
He, however, maintained that the PML-N and all others should respect the courts.
To a question about the response of Prime Minister Imran Khan over his visit to the UN General Assembly, the foreign minister said that he appreciated and congratulated him for presenting Pakistan's viewpoint effectively.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan wanted relations with the United States on equality basis as a sovereign country.Pakistan and the US needed each other to move forward.He said that Prime Minister Imran was satisfied with his meetings with the US leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. “He believes that the situation is not too bad and Pak-US relationship can still be revived,” Shah Mehmood said that he  apprised Prime Minister Imran Khan about his participation at the UN General Assembly session in New York where he represented the country and held important meetings on the sidelines and said Pakistan’s relations with the US were on a positive trajectory. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi further said that his interaction with delegates of different countries, he put across Pakistan’s point of view on important issues. He emphasised that bringing Afghan Taliban to negotiating table was collective responsibility of all countries.About the controversy regarding his interaction with US President Donald Trump, he made it clear: “President Trump welcomed the Foreign Minister at the reception and they had a brief discussion.  It was a very positive development. that Pakistan and the United States agreed to move forward ”oreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he found Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “ready to listen” to Pakistan and said he was returning to Islamabad “slightly more hopeful” than before.
The US has pressed for years for Pakistan to crack down on militant groups involved in Afghanistan. The US alleges the insurgents have safe havens in Pakistan’s border areas, accusations which Islamabad has repeatedly denied.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that the US had linked restoration of aid to Pakistan’s ‘performance’ in Afghanistan.
One official said: “If we deliver for them in Afghanistan, they are most likely to restore the aid. There might be some other concessions too if we fulfill their demands.”
Another official said Pakistan had always insisted that the Afghanistan issue could only be resolved through dialogue. “We will provide help to facilitate the dialogue process for Afghanistan peace. This is a longstanding offer from Pakistan. The US wants to see some ‘visible’ evidence on Afghanistan cooperation,” he added.
In the meetings, Qureshi told that he tried to convince the US leaders that Pak-US cooperation was vital for regional peace in South Asia. There was agreement from the US on the Pak-US cooperation but Washington persisted with its demand of more efforts by Islamabad and “fair play.”Qureshi said  the US “wanted to get out there at the beginning of his time in an effort to reset the relationship between the two countries”.Shah Mehmood Qureshi replied that he was not contesting bypoll from PP-217 to become Chief Minister of Punjab.However he would support to such candidate who would be nominated by the party.
Earlier, the US military said it has made a decision to cancel $300 million in aid to Pakistan that had been suspended over Islamabad’s perceived failure to take decisive action against militants.
The so-called Coalition Support Funds were part of a broader suspension in aid to Pakistan announced by President Trump at the start of the year, when he accused Pakistan of rewarding past assistance with “nothing but lies and deceit.”
The Trump administration alleged Islamabad was granting safe haven to insurgents who are waging a 17-year-old war in neighboring Afghanistan, a charge Pakistan denies.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, in particular, had an opportunity to authorize $ 300 million in CSF funds through this summer - if he saw concrete Pakistani actions to go after insurgents, but he chose not to do so.
This week, Pakistan pledged to support negotiations with the Taliban to end Afghanistan’s 17-year war and asked the US to restore military aid.

Previous Post Next Post