ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and "apprised him of India's continuing regressive policies in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir".
According to a statement issued by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown, Secretary of State Pompeo spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday.
"Secretary Pompeo and Minister Qureshi discussed a range of issues, including the importance of US-Pakistan cooperation on the Afghan peace process and the importance of efforts to support regional stability," Brown said.
The Foreign Office, in its statement said that the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, and developments in the region with a view to promoting peace, prosperity, and stability.
Stressing the importance of the Pakistan-US relationship, Foreign Minister Qureshi stated that the leadership of both the countries was committed to further strengthen it. He added that Pakistan would be a partner for peace with the US.
The foreign minister apprised Secretary Pompeo of India's continuing regressive policies in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) manifested with massive violations of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The foreign minister thanked him for the US participation in the debate in the UN Security Council on 5th August 2020 on the completion of one year of India's unilateral and illegal actions.
He said that the Security Council's deliberations, once again, reaffirmed the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that the continued interest and commitment of the international community would help generate the necessary momentum towards resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Reviewing the recent developments in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated Pakistan's steadfast commitment to supporting all efforts for an inclusive and comprehensive political settlement. The foreign minister stressed that the Afghan peace process should be pursued in all earnest.
Noting the holding of Loya Jirga, he expressed the hope that a conducive environment would be created for the earliest convening of the intra-Afghan negotiations. Exchanging notes on the Covid-19 pandemic, the foreign minister thanked Secretary Pompeo for the US support and assistance. He also shared the encouraging results following the policy of "smart lockdown" in Pakistan, which helped the government in gradual opening of the economy.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020