On Sunday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that Pakistan will not be a part of any war in the region but will continue to play a vibrant and positive role for the establishment of peace.
The Foreign Minister made this statement on Sunday during a meeting with the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, in Tehran. His statement comes amid intense tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of top Iranian General Soleimani earlier this month. Since the US ordered an airstrike to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, tensions between the United States and Iran have heightened ten-fold. Following this attack, Iran retaliated by targeting a US base in Iraq. After this escalation of tensions, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the Foreign Minister to meet with Iranian and Saudi leaders to emphasise the need for immediate and effective peace-building measures. During his meeting with the Iranian President, Qureshi emphasised “using the diplomatic means” to reduce the tension in the region urged the nations to “resolve outstanding issues amicably and peacefully”. During the meeting, which encompassed the US-Iran tension, regional peace and the multifaceted Pak-Iran ties, the Foreign Minister further emphasised that both the countries enjoyed “deep historic, religious, cultural brotherhood”. In reference to recent statements made by the Iranian leadership, the foreign minister appreciated the restraint shown by Tehran and said that the region could not afford any more tension or confrontation.
“Pakistan would not join any war in the region; however, it will continue playing a vibrant and positive role for establishment of peace in the region,” the minister told Rouhani. FM Qureshi also thanked Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Rouhani for supporting Pakistan and raising their voice against the Indian atrocities in Indian occupied Kashmir. Keep up to date with more news at ProperGaanda: Pakistan and Russia have agreed to launch joint diplomatic efforts to ‘restore peace in the region’