ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will arrive in Abu Dhabi today and address a press conference.
According to diplomatic sources, Qureshi was scheduled to arrive in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, however, the schedule was changed due to the escalating tensions in the region.
However, it is not yet known whether the foreign minister is in Abu Dhabi to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers scheduled to be held from March 1-2.
A day earlier, Qureshi had said Pakistan had conveyed its reservations over Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s presence at OIC.
“India is neither a member of OIC nor an observer,” Qureshi said.
Pakistan conveyed reservations to OIC over invite to India’s foreign minister, says Qureshi
“The host country had invited the Indian foreign minister as a guest speaker for one inaugural session. I have spoken to the UAE minister and apprised him of Pakistan’s reservations and told him that he should have spoken to us before inviting Swaraj.”
“I will not hesitate to meet but OIC is not the forum for talks with Swaraj,” Qureshi asserted.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have heightened after New Delhi without any proof blamed Pakistan for harbouring terrorists behind the Pulwama attack. Prime Minister Imran Khan in response called for dialogue and urged India to provide actionable intelligence.
On Tuesday, Indian military aircraft had violated the LoC as they “intruded” from the Muzaffarabad sector and were forced to return owing to the timely response of the Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed it had shot down two Indian aircraft which had crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) and taken one Indian pilot in custody.
PM Imran while addressing a joint session of Parliament on Thursday announced, Pakistan will release captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman today (Friday) as a gesture of peace towards New Delhi and a step showing de-escalation in favour of regional peace.
