FM Qureshi announces not to attend OIC meeting

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday announced that he is not going to attend Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’s foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled in Abu Dhabi.

“Pakistan has shown its reservations over inviting Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Sawaraj and informed OIC’s secretary general in this regard,” he said while addressing on the floor of the joint session of the Parliament.

Qureshi said he wrote two letters to the OIC secretary general and requested the OIC to reconsider its invitation to Sushma Sawaraj of attending the meeting or adjourn the session.

Qureshi said he wrote two letters to the OIC secretary general and requested to reconsider its invitation to Sushma Sawaraj or adjourn the session.

Mentioning that the “United Arab Emirates (UAE)  has always helped Pakistan in difficult times”, Qureshi noted with regret that despite Pakistan’s protest, the OIC’s invitation to Swaraj was not rescinded.

“I have [therefore] decided not to attend OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Abu Dhabi,” the foreign minister announced.

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Commenting on the recent provocation from the Indian side, Qureshi said Modi is putting peace of the region at sake to fulfill his political desire. “21 political parties have voiced concerns against Narendra Modi in India,” he continued.

Welcoming the mediation offers from Russia, the foreign minister relayed Pakistan always preferred peace over the aggression.

“Islamabad welcomes the mediation offers from Mr Guterres and Mr Puttin for mediation between Pakistan and India for de-escalating the situation.”

The FM said prime minister’s decision to free captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthman is another initiative of Pakistan for enduring peace and stability in the region.