Amid escalated tensions between India and Pakistan after the recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are scheduled to meet virtually at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting on September 24, reported The Hindu.
“All member countries have confirmed participation in the meeting, to be chaired by Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal. The respective Foreign Ministers will take part,” sources told The Hindu.
India attends despite humiliation at SCO meeting
A senior Indian official also confirmed that Jaishankar will attend despite the incident at the SCO virtual meeting of National Security Advisors on Tuesday. During that meeting, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval stormed out after he saw that the Pakistan Special Advisor on National Security Moeed Yusuf had used a map of Pakistan that claimed Indian territory.
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An Indian official has confirmed that Jaishankar will be attending despite India’s disrespectful walkout from the SCO meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting India raised objections to Pakistan’s new political map stating that Pakistan had unlawfully incorporated ‘Sovereign Indian states’ as part of Pakistan, to which Pakistan condemned India’s stance and spoke of the unlawful unilateral actions taken by India and how it is an internationally recognised disputed territory according to UN resolutions.
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Scheduled for next Thursday, the SAARC meeting of Foreign Ministers is part of an established practice of holding a casual lunch meeting by the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Last year, both FM Qureshi and Jaishankar attended the meeting but decided not to stay for each other’s speeches.
Backlash against Indian strategy in Occupied Kashmir from within India : FM
Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Indian strategy has miserably failed in Occupied Kashmir and voices are being raised on failure of Indian strategy from within India. He said in a statement here Friday that India is using force against unarmed Kashmiris since the last 7 decades but Kashmir issue will not be resolved through use of force.
He remarked India tried to gag the voice of Kashmiris through unilateral laws and restrictions. The atrocities being perpetrated against Kashmiris by Indian troops after August 5, 2019 are unprecedented in the world history. India can succeed for the time being in suppressing the voice of Kashmiris but such brutalities will not help address Kashmir problem, he added.
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He observed Indian inhuman moves have triggered provocation among the Kashmiris in Occupied Kashmir. Azad Kashmir flag is being hoisted in Occupied Kashmir today. Long live Pakistan slogans are raised in Occupied Kashmir which testify that Kashmiris have not accepted unilateral steps taken by India.
He went on to say “ we will continue to take up Kashmir issue on every forum’ Kashmir issue is being debated upon in every world forum today. He stated that he had met with foreign ministers of other countries on sidelines of SCO session. Kashmir problem came under discussion during these bilateral meetings.
Indian human rights violations in Kashmir can not go unnoticed
He pointed out that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will talk about Kashmir problem during his address to UN General Assembly session on 25th. This will be discussed how UN ignored Kashmir issue. On one hand UN has made many achievements but on other hand it has failed in resolving Kashmir and Palestine issues.
“I said this during my meeting with the European Union envoy. EU is flag bearer of human rights therefore, it should raise voice against ongoing human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir”, he added.
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He underlined human rights are being trampled ruthlessly in Occupied Kashmir.
I congratulate all on Pakistan success on the matter of Reko- Diq. Pakistan has got a big relief for the time being. When national economy is under pressure due to Corona, it is a big relief in these circumstances.
He observed “ China is our friend. China has always stood by Pakistan in trying time. We are enjoying historical ties with Saudi Arabia. We have an emotional attachment with Saudi Arabia.
“We have reopened educational institutes, We will have to ensure implementation of SOPs therein. Medical experts are expressing fear repeatedly that second wave of Corona can overtake in winter season. We will have to keep on adhering to precautionary measures, he stressed.
SAARC Foreign Ministers meeting in preparation for SAARC leaders summit
The agenda of the meeting entails opening remarks by Mr. Gyawali followed by a succint overview by SAARC Secretary General, which is to be followed by respective country statements of participating Foreign Ministers.
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Conventionally, the SAARC Foreign Ministers meeting is in preparation for the SAARC leaders summit. The last leaders summit took place in 2014, after which India has refused participation as the summit is to be held in Pakistan. It is still unclear if the summit will be held virtually.
GVS News Desk with additional input by other sources