Qureshi welcomes Trump’s ‘intervention’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday welcomed ‘intervention’ by US President Donald Trump after he became the first one to say in so many words that there was “reasonably decent” news coming from India and Pakistan that the ongoing conflict was now over.

At a news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam after a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which ended abruptly without any deal, Donald Trump said there was "reasonably decent" news coming from India and Pakistan. "We have I think reasonably attractive news from Pakistan and India. They have been going at it. We were involved in trying to have them stop. We have some reasonably decent news. I think hopefully that [conflict] is going to be coming to an end. It's been going on for a long time,” he said.

Immediately after, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament that he was going to release the Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan on Friday (today).

The pilot was captured by Pakistan when his fighter plane was shot down while intruding into Pakistan’s airspace. It appeared that the US had played some major role in de-escalation and release of the Indian pilot was part of it.

"I am happy that President Trump has, gauging the seriousness of the situation, decided to intervene. Pakistan has long-standing ties with the US, and America's intervention can prove to be helpful for regional peace," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the media. He reiterated that Pakistan had, since the escalation of recent tensions with India, been calling for peace and making it clear that India's attempts to spread regional unrest were a result of demands of its internal politics and upcoming elections.

"Now Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are saying themselves that by conducting such strikes in Pakistan they would get 22 more seats in Lok Sabha,” he said.

Earlier Reuters reported that The Pentagon had said that Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan was focused on de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and urged them both to avoid further military action. A Pentagon statement said Shanahan had spoken with senior American military officials about the situation.

"Acting Secretary Shanahan's focus is on de-escalating tensions and urging both of the nations to avoid further military action," the statement added.

Qureshi received a telephone call from British Secretary of State for Foreign and Common Wealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt, last evening.

The two foreign ministers discussed the situation of regional peace and security in the aftermath of the Indian aggression. This was Hunt’s second telephone call to the foreign minister in the last three days.

Meanwhile, Qureshi made it plain that he was reluctant to attend the OIC Foreign Ministers conference in the presence of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Qureshi told Parliament that Pakistan's stance on the OIC event had been sent to the secretary general in writing.

"I will present a copy of that letter to Parliament," he added.

As Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf flies into Pakistan, it appears he will try to convince Qureshi to attend the OIC.

Qureshi said Ibrahim Al-Assaf was carrying a special message from Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Qureshi said he had spoken to his Saudi counterpart on telephone last night. "He expressed a wish to come to Pakistan, which I welcomed," he said.

Meanwhile, Thursday also saw world capitals in touch with the foreign minister.

EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini in a statement said following the recent terrorist attack in Pulwama, tensions along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan have escalated militarily during the last days.

“This has the potential to lead to serious and dangerous consequences for the two countries and the wider region.

We expect both countries to now exercise utmost restraint and avoid any further escalation of the situation. To this end, the resumption of diplomatic contacts at political level and implementation of urgent measures by both sides is vital”, she urged.

She also pointed out that terrorism can never be justified.

“I spoke a few days ago by telephone with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to emphasise the need to continue to address terrorism, including clear and targeted actions related to all forms of terrorist activity”, she said.

The European Union will remain in contact with both countries and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Qureshi also briefed the British secretary of state on the Indian aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.

He said the Indian attack was in gross violation of the international law. Pakistan had responded in self-defence from within its own airspace. Nevertheless, Pakistan wishes to de-escalate the situation and is ready to engage in dialogue.

He urged the UK to play its due role in bringing down tensions between Pakistan and India, the Foreign Office said.

The foreign minister added that the captured Indian Air Force pilot would be treated humanely in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Secretary Hunt expressed concern over the current situation in the region and encouraged both sides to show restraint and de-escalate. The two foreign ministers agreed to continue consultations and work together for diffusing tensions.

Qureshi also spoke to Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, on telephone on Thursday and briefed him on the latest situation of peace and security in the region, especially in the aftermath of yesterday’s Indian aggression across the LoC.

He said Pakistan had responded in self-defence. However, further escalation was not an option. Despite India’s war mongering, Pakistan had offered dialogue and asked the Indian side to share actionable evidence to enable us to take appropriate action.

Deputy Prime Minister Reynders thanked Foreign Minister Qureshi for the briefing and urged both Pakistan and India to take steps to de-escalate the situation and enter into dialogue to resolve all issues.

He further assured that Belgium would consult other EU members of the Security Council to assist in de-escalation of situation.

The two leaders agreed to remain in contact to work towards diffusion of tensions in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke on Wednesday on phone to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and offered mediation between India and Pakistan, Reuters reported.

Zarif urged both countries to practice restraint, semi-official news agency ISNA reported. ISNA said Zarif was going to speak to his Indian counterpart as well, but did not specify any date.

China´s Foreign Minister Wang Yi´ called on Pakistan and India to avoid escalating tensions, expressing to his Pakistani counterpart "deep concern" over the Kashmir crisis amid fears aerial battles could snowball into an all-out conflict.

Wang Yi´s comments came as Shah Mehmood Qureshi called him on Wednesday to provide an update on the latest developments in the standoff, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Wang told Qureshi he hoped the nuclear-armed neighbours would "exercise restraint and earnestly fulfil their commitment to preventing the expansion of the situation," a ministry statement said.

Expressing its concern over the deteriorating situation in the Indian Held Kashmir, Japan Thursday strongly urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilise the situation through dialogue.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono in a statement, issued by the Embassy of Japan here, said Japan was concerned over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir.

“In response to the mounting tension due to the operations since February 26 between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, Japan strongly urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilise the situation through dialogue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan received a telephonic call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday evening, who appreciated his statesman-like offer to India for de-escalation and working towards peace.

The Turkish president said Islam was a religion of peace that underscores resolving disputes in a peaceful manner.

He appreciated Imran Khan's announcement to release the captured Indian pilot and said this gesture was a sign of strength.

Imran briefed President Erdogan on the situation as it evolved over the past few days and the efforts he made to de-escalate the crisis.

Both leaders agreed that President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan for the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting would provide an opportunity for an in-depth overview of bilateral relations and the way forward.

Meanwhile, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan's willingness to resolve all issues in a peaceful manner.

In a telephonic call to Prime Minister Imran Khan, the UAE Crown Prince congratulated the Prime Minister on his statesman-like speech in the Joint Session of the Parliament.