Qureshi says Chinese FM’s statement not directed at Pakistan

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Chinese foreign minister’s statement from the other day about some countries changing their policy towards China “over one phone call” was not a jibe from Beijing directed at Pakistan.

Earlier, when China and Iran signed a $400 billion agreement in Tehran, the Chinese minister had said that “Iran decides independently on its relations with other countries and is not like some countries that change their position with one phone call.”

Qureshi said Pakistan and China enjoyed brotherly relations with one another hence China’s statement was targeted at other nations.

On relations with India

Speaking about Pakistan’s ties to India, he said both countries cannot afford to go to war. The foreign minister said Pakistan had stated its policy clearly to India on trade, now it was up to New Delhi to create a conducive atmosphere for peace between the two nations.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that Islamabad would not normalise ties with India until and unless it does not reverse its August 5 move of attempting to annex occupied Kashmir.

He expressed concerns over the ongoing situation in Indian Kashmir and said the people of Kashmir and different political parties had already rejected the Indian government’s decision of August 5, 2019.

He said different international human rights organisations had raised their voice against the human rights violations in Indian held Kashmir.