PM directs Qureshi to visit US, Iran, Saudi Arabia as part of Pakistan's 'role for peace'

Web Desk

January 08, 2020

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Wednesday he has asked Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States to tell their leaders that Pakistan was "ready to play its role for peace but it can never again be part of any war".

In a tweet shared Wednesday evening, he wrote: "I have asked FM Qureshi to visit Iran, KSA & USA to meet with respective foreign ministers, Secretary of State."

He added that he had also asked Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa "to contact relevant military leaders to convey a clear message: Pakistan is ready to play it's role for peace but it can never again be part of any war."

Earlier in the day, he had expressed deep concern over the recent US-Iran tensions and called for a de-escalation between the two countries, reiterating that Pakistan would not take part in any conflict.

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According to Radio Pakistan, the PM met Oman's Minister for Endowment and Religious Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdullah Assalami where "he expressed deep concern over the evolving situation in the region [Middle East]".

The prime minister had made it clear that Pakistan would not be part of any conflict, saying "war is in nobody’s interest" and recalling how the country itself had suffered for many years owing to regional conflicts.

During the meeting, he had said he earlier tried to facilitate contacts between Iran and the US as well as Tehran and Riyadh. He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to be a "partner for peace" and do its part to avoid conflict.

Late Tuesday night, Iran had fired multiple surface-to-surface ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq that housed American troops as a response to the US strike that killed Al Quds commander Qassem Soleimani, marking the first time Tehran directly engaged Washington's military in conflict.

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