Pakistan on Thursday offered to play a 'positive and constructive' role in defusing the tension between the United States and Iran, as Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif are set to hold talks today (Friday). "Pakistan always supports dialogue and desires that all issues should be settled peacefully and through engagement by all sides. If required, Pakistan is ready to play a constructive and positive role in this regard," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said while responding to media queries during his weekly briefing.
He said that Iranian foreign minister is arriving in Pakistan on Thursday night and he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Qureshi on Friday. "We believe the situation in the region is serious and needs to be addressed through dialogue by all parties. We expect all sides to show restraint, as any miscalculated move, can transmute into a large-scale conflict," he said.
As part of his regional outreach, Foreign Minister Zarif is visiting Pakistan amid escalating tension between Iran and United States to hold talk with Pakistani leadership about the situation and update them on Tehran's position.
The spokesperson also stated that Foreign Minister Qureshi will represent Pakistan in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers session on May 28 and 29, 2019. However, he stated that Prime Minister Khan visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the 14th Islamic Summit of the OIC on May 30 and 31 will be confirmed in due course.
In response to a question about the Indian elections' results, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan has consistently maintained that the only way to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, is through implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions. "Dialogue is hence essential. We remain committed to the same, irrespective of whoever forms the new government in India," he added.
The spokesperson declined to comment on the informal meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday last in Bishkek, saying: "The foreign minister will dilate upon this issue himself."
Commenting on Indian home minister's statement about removal of Articles 370 and 35 (A) from Indian Constitution aimed at demographic changes of the disputed territory, the spokesperson said that Pakistan opposes any move which violates the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
"In principle, there cannot be any change in the status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir until a UN administered plebiscite is held in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions," he asserted. About the latest diplomatic tension between Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said that in a press briefing held by Bangladesh Foreign Office on May 21, 2019, Bangladesh foreign minister has confirmed that "Bangladesh has not stopped issuing visas to anyone."
"Pakistan wants friendly relations with all countries and is trying to address all pending matters on the basis of reciprocity. We are in touch with the Bangladeshi authorities in the matter," Dr Faisal said. To another query about exporting skilled workers to Japan, he said that Japan is in need of foreign workers due to rapidly ageing population and low birthrate. He said that the country has launched a new visa system to bring in more foreign workers to meet an acute labour shortage, adding that under this new system, foreigners with certain Japanese language and job skills can now apply for a resident status.
Both countries have already signed memorandum of cooperation (MoC) on Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) in February 2019, he said, adding that Pakistan will send trainees to Japan. The concerned authorities in Pakistan and Japan are also working on a MoU to formalise the process for sending Pakistani skilled workers to Japan, he added.
Comments
Comments are closed.