FO says Putin’s offer to mediate between Pakistan and India welcomed

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GEO NEWS
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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer of mediation between Pakistan and India during the weekly briefing.

Nafees Zakaria, spokesperson for the FO, said after the recent establishment of high-level contact with the Russian Federation, Putin's offer to ease tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours is welcomed by Pakistan.

Referring to the premier's recent visit to Saudi Arabia to ease tensions in the Gulf, Zakaria explained that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received a warm welcome during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

He was speaking during the weekly media briefing of the Foreign Office.

The prime minister discussed the ongoing Gulf crisis with the Saudi King and assured the government of protecting the Harmain Sharifain, said Zakaria.

On the issue of the Chinese couple that was reportedly kidnapped and then killed in Quetta, he remarked that interior ministry has already issued a statement in this regard. “It is clear that the Chinese couple had nothing to do with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he added.

“Pakistan is concerned about the Chinese couple,” he said, adding, that law enforcing agencies are currently investigating the matter to get more detail.

Civil war has been going on in Afghanistan since the last 40 years, he said.

Zakaria also said that the Indian violation of Line of Control ceasefire agreement affects regional peace.

“Indian troops are continuing with atrocities in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.”

The Indian troops did not even show any respect for the month of Ramazan, he remarked.

Kashmiris who celebrated Pakistan’s victory in Champions League’s semi-final were baton charged, according to the spokesperson. Moreover, the Indian troops also looted shopkeepers for celebrating Pakistan’s win.

Pakistan has raised the issue of human rights violation in Kashmir in United Nations, he remarked.

Zakaria also said that the Sikh pilgrims who wanted to come to Pakistan for Jor Mela were stopped in Attari. “Only a few Sikh pilgrims were allowed to cross the border,” he claimed.

India’s behaviour towards the visa-holding pilgrims is saddening, he added. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also congratulated the Pakistan cricket team for making their way to the final of Champions Trophy 2017.

We hope that Pakistan cricket team is also able to win the final, said the FO spokesperson.