Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Tuesday said that he looks forward to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on his visit to Pakistan on September 5 to hold talks on issues of mutual interest.
Speaking at a news conference, Qureshi said that Secretary Pompeo is scheduled to arrive next month and emphasized that the two countries have to "move on." He said that Pakistan will try to steer its bilateral relations with the US towards betterment during the US Secretary of State's visit to the country.
To a question about the possibility of any meeting with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next month in New Work, he said so far there is nothing scheduled about the meeting with his Indian counterpart but he did not rule out any possibility of the meeting. "If there has to be a meeting, I will not hesitate to meet her," he added.
To another query, he welcomed the talks between water commissioners of Pakistan and India, saying that there is also a need for resolution of all the outstanding issues between the two countries. The foreign minister also updated the media about his telephonic conversation with his Dutch counterpart Stef Blok on Tuesday evening, saying that he conveyed deep concern of the people of Pakistan on the abominable and sacrilegious competition.
Qureshi said that during the conversation he emphasized that the deliberate effort to vilify religious personalities under the pretext of freedom of expression is not acceptable. He said that the Dutch foreign minister was conveyed that such acts must be condemned, countered and prevented as they spread hatred and intolerance in societies.
However, he said that the Dutch foreign minister informed that Dutch cabinet did not endorse the individual act for holding the blasphemous competition. To a question, he said that the Dutch foreign minister was of the view that they cannot take action against the individual as under the Dutch laws freedom of expression cannot be penalized.
To another query, he said that Pakistan's individual act will not have a larger impact, adding that efforts are underway with rest of the Muslim countries to chalk out a joint strategy to prevent such blasphemous acts. About Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif's visit, Qureshi said that he will be welcoming his Iranian counterpart on August 31 in Islamabad. He said that Iran is a neighbor and good friend of Pakistan, like other Muslim countries in the Gulf such as the Saudi Arabia and UAE.
"For us, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are very important countries and we would like to have relations with both the countries based on mutual respect," he told a question as to how the new government would adopt a balancing approach between the Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Qureshi said that he also has written letters to six permanent members of the OIC and its secretary general to convene an urgent session of the Organization to formulate a united approach of the Muslim countries. He further said he also received a telephone call from his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday evening and discussed the matter with him in detail.
Qureshi said that he briefed the Turkish foreign minister about the strong resentment in Pakistan, like the rest of the Islamic World, on the news of an international competition on caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) being organized in Holland.
He said that they agreed to raise the issue with the Dutch government with one voice under the banner of the OIC. Meanwhile, according to the Foreign Office statement, reiterating Turkey's desire to promote peace in the region, the Turkish foreign minister offered to host the trilateral Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey Summit in near future.
Pakistan would soon host the next round of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) at the leadership level, it stated, adding both leaders also agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UNGA session in New York. Foreign Minister Qureshi extended an invitation to his Turkish counterpart to visit Pakistan which he accepted, it added.
The Turkish foreign minister also congratulated Foreign Minister Qureshi on recent election victory of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He also extended his felicitations to the foreign minister on his taking charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Cavusoglu expressed strong desire of the government of Turkey to strengthen the existing close and friendly relations between the two countries," it stated, adding Pakistan and Turkey enjoy exemplary fraternal relations based on common faith, values, culture, civilizational linkages, history, mutual trust and support.
He also conveyed the best wishes of the people of Turkey for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the Pakistani people in guidance of the new visionary leadership in the country. Reciprocating the warm sentiments, Foreign Minister Qureshi stated that over the years, Pak-Turkey relations have been transformed into a mutually beneficial strategic partnership.
The foreign minister expressed his keen desire to work closely with his Turkish counterpart to expand bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly in trade and economic sector. He added that Pakistan and Turkey would also continue to play a coordinated role to promote peace and stability in the region.
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