Terming the decision to release the Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan as an initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday made it clear that there was no international pressure whatsoever in this regard.
"There was neither compulsion nor any pressure to release the Indian pilot," the Foreign Minister said while addressing a news conference, here on Saturday.
Qureshi maintained that Pakistan does not want regional peace to be put on stake for the sake of (Indian) politics. "Now even 21 political parties of India are saying that Pulwama incident is being used for political motives," he added. "We are united in Pakistan; there is a large constituency even in India which want peace," he said.
When asked about violation of Line of Control by India, he said, "Informed and aware people know that return of the Indian pilot was not our weakness." Answering a question, he said that the decision to boycott the OIC meeting was taken with consensus in the Parliament. "Raja Pervez Ashraf of the PPP signed the resolution," he said, adding: "Asif Ali Zardari expressed his personal opinion but accepted the decision of the parliament."
He also said that the joint session of the Parliament adopted a 21-point resolution with consensus, which shows that the Pakistani nation is united and wants resolution of issues with India through a dialogue. He reiterated that Pakistan reserve the right of defence if any aggression is made. He added that our action in response to the Indian aggression was just to show them our capabilities.
He further said there is a new government in Pakistan, which has a development agenda for peace, job creation, investment, growth and development. He added that democracy always strives for peace, prosperity, economic growth and well being of the people.
Qureshi announced that contacts within the region and beyond are underway to differentiate between those who want peace and those who desire for war. He said that he had held a meeting with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, who is former member of the UK parliament and it was decided to write letters to the ministers and members of the UK and EU parliaments, conveying them Pakistan's desire for peace with a request to play their role for peace in the region. He said that he held talks with different world leaders and conveyed Pakistan's desire for peace. He added that the Russian Minister has already offered to play the role of mediator between the two countries while the Saudi Foreign Minister is also coming to Pakistan. He added that he also talked with the US Foreign Secretary and the UN Secretary General.
Answering a question about death of Shakirullah in an Indian prison, Qureshi said, "Mob mentality exists everywhere, in Pakistan the Indian pilot was rescued by the army while the Pakistani citizen was killed in Jaipur prison."
On the occasion, the Punjab Governor said that in a meeting with Foreign Minister Qureshi, it was decided to write letters to the members of the UK and EU Parliaments to ask them to play their role for peace in the region.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in a statement said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has given peace another chance in the region and his (Khan) gesture of peace will be written in golden words in the history. He also said that Imran Khan has given the message of peace to people and the Government of India, and now it is India's turn to respond. "Pakistan has always elected for peace and the release of the Indian pilot has been admired by the international community," he added.
He said that PM Imran Khan has proved himself to be a real leader by taking a step forward toward peace. India should now respond sensibly so that fear of war is dispersed.
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