ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with the US national Security Adviser on Monday afternoon to discuss the regional security situation following the recently deadly attack on Indian soldiers in Pulwama.
The purpose of the call was to convey Pakistan’s perspective on the recent regional developments to US National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton, the Foreign Office said.
“Foreign Minister Qureshi said that Indian aggression of February 26 was a violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as the UN Charter. He also said that Pakistan’s response on 27 February was purely in self defence against external aggression,” read the foreign office statement.
Foreign Minister Qureshi informed Ambassador Bolton about de-escalatory measures taken by Pakistan.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to hand over the Indian pilot as a gesture of goodwill towards India. Pakistan wished peace and stability in the region. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to New Delhi had also returned to Delhi after consultations,” it said.
According to the statement, Pakistan will send an official delegation to India on March 14 to discuss the agreement on the operationalisation of the Kartarpur Corridor.
The foreign minister also conveyed to the US national security adviser that his country was ready to continue weekly contacts at the Military Operations Directorate level.
Ambassador John Bolton said that he and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, despite being actively engaged in talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Hanoi, monitored the developments between India and Pakistan and kept contact with the leadership of two countries to ensure that the security situation in the South Asia region did not deteriorate.
He appreciated Pakistan measures which had helped lowering the tension and urged continued restraint on both sides, according to the statement.
“The need for dialogue between Pakistan and India to find peaceful resolution to all outstanding disputes was also emphasized,” it added.
Foreign Minister Qureshi cautioned against any Indian misadventure, keeping in view the forthcoming elections in India, to which Ambassador Bolton concurred.
The foreign office said that Ambassador Bolton also appreciated Pakistan’s important role in the Afghan peace process, and that both leaders agreed to work together to pursue the process.
