By Nadeem Shah
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday said Afghan National Security Advisor (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib should be ashamed for maligning Pakistan and advised him against using harsh language against Islamabad.
“Listen to me closely,” he said, calling out the Afghan official, “Pakistan has played an important role in helping achieve stability in Afghanistan.” .. as the foreign minister of Pakistan I say that no Pakistani will shake your hand or talk with you if you don’t desist from the kind of language you are using or the accusations you’re making against Pakistan.” “You should be ashamed and you should be guilty at your words and my blood is boiling ever since your speech in Nangarhar.
The foreign minister’s comments came during his address to party workers in Multan, where he spoke onseveral fronts, including the Afghan peace process and the progress with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
“Afghanistan’s national security advisor should review his statement [against Pakistan]; he is creating obstacles in the road towards peace,” the foreign minister said.”Correct your behaviour and reflect on it. I say this to the international community that if this behaviour continues, then this person, who calls himself the national security adviser of Afghanistan, will actually be playing the role of a spoiler [for peace].” “Therefore, the Afghan nation and the wise citizens of Afghanistan, who wish for peace, should urge him to reflect on his behaviour because it is not correct.” Qureshi said the world had acknowledged Pakistan’s role for peace in Afghanistan.
Last month, officials had said that Pakistan had conveyed to the Afghan leadership it would no longer conduct official business with Mohib due to his recent “abusive outburst” against Islamabad. In a public speech, Mohib had repeated his allegations against Islamabad. His remarks outraged leaders in Islamabad, who denounced them, saying they “debased all norms of interstate communication.”
Nadeem Shah adds from Multan: Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday said Prime Minister Imran Khan took a very clear stance over the Palestine dispute and gave very clear direction.
He said that he had planned hosting foreign ministers of Islamic countries in March 2022. He would present the case of Kashmir before them, he said.
Addressing a workers reception, hosted in his honour and talking to journalists later, he said the innocent Palestinian population was attacked on Ramazan 27 ironically. The social media played a key role in exposing Israeli tyrannies and presented a real picture of Israeli aggression, he said.
The foreign minister said that he had pleaded the Palestine case at the Organisation of Islamic Conference in the most befitting manner. The Pakistan resolution was largely admired in Geneva, he added. The Palestinian foreign minister said that 125 bombs were fired in 25 minutes, he added.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistanis backed his stance on Palestine when the Zionist lobby attacked the social media. He said he did not forget about Kashmir when he was watching the Gaza situation. He said the problem with India was Kashmir, which could not be ignored. Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with India, he added. He said Pakistan had played an aggressive role in peace building in Afghanistan because Pakistan believes in peace and stability.
He said that some forces attempted to harm Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the session of the forum was expected in the current month, he added. Pakistan was on the grey list before formation of the PTI government, he added. The foreign minister said there was no justification to keep Pakistan in the grey list anymore.
Qureshi said the world economy had been in turmoil. At least 10 million people have lost their jobs in India in the month of April. He said they had fought the first and second waves of COVID-19 pandemic and they were also fighting against the third wave successfully. The stock exchange and the economy is improving. Motorcycle and car sales have increased in the country, he said. The foreign minister said: “I have never used a government vehicle and never put a flag on my car.”
He said the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), was ignited by the lamp of Multan. History would expose that the lamp proved a nail in the PDM coffin, he said. He said let them know if the opposition had any suggestions.
Shah Mehmood said those elected on bat symbol were Imran Khan’s partners and nobody could exploit them. He said two narratives were running inn the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) currently. One belongs to Maryam Nawaz and the other to Shehbaz Sharif. Even in the PPP, after election of the leader of the opposition in Senate, two narratives have emerged. Today, the division in the PDM was also clear, he added.
Qureshi said hue and cry was being raised that the PTI increased inflation. But who ruled the country for 40 years, he asked adding that if there was no inflation during those years. He hoped the government would control inflation soon. Pakistan’s economy is clearly improving, he said. He said that Imran Khan had a very clear message on corruption that the scourge had hollowed the country. Imran Khan would not compromise on corruption, he promised. The nation was shocked at this thought too, he said. The PTI wanted to end unemployment with growth. Prices of food items had gone up. Provincial and federal budgets would be passed easily. The top most priority was to control inflation.
Qureshi said the Tareen group would not create any hurdle in approval of the budgets. He said Imran Khan had a clear stance over mafias and accountability. He said accountability would continue no matter any accused belonged to the opposition or the ruling party PTI.
He said the water issue was being raised to divert the public attention from the governance issues in Sindh.
The Asia Pacific report had appreciated Pakistan’s measures against coronavirus, he added.
However, the foreign minister refused to give a reply when he was asked about the PTI candidates’ defeat in bye-elections, and party’s declining popularity graph.
