Qureshi, Javad agree to work together to contain coronavirus

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to work together to contain the outbreak of coronavirus that has claimed lives of more than two dozen Iranian people.

The agreement came during a telephonic conversation between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on Wednesday, according to Radio Pakistan.

“Pakistan extends its full support to Iran to cope with the outbreak of Coronavirus,” Qureshi said.

The foreign minister also thanked the Iranian Foreign Minister for highlighting the Indian atrocities against Indian Muslims.

A day earlier, Qureshi took to Twitter to thank the Iranian diplomat for his tweet, condemning the violence against Indian Muslims.

“Fully share the concerns expressed by my brother @JZarif  on safety and well-being of Indian Muslims facing naked violence from RSS mobs. India is in throes of grave communal violence. Their sinister & systemic killing of Muslims is inhuman & dangerous for whole region,” Qureshi tweeted. 

In a rare statement, the Iranian FM condemned what he described as the wave of organized violence against Indian Muslims.

“For centuries, Iran has been a friend of India. We urge Indian authorities to ensure the wellbeing of ALL Indians & not let senseless thuggery prevail. Path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law,” added Zarif.