Iran’s inclusion in CPEC, peace in Afghanistan to benefit region: Shah Mahmood
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said Iran’s inclusion in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and peace in Afghanistan will benefit every country of the region.
In a statement on Friday, he said this was a jolt for India, and the opposition was criticizing the Indian government.
The minister said several Indian troops were killed and injured in a clash with China. He said there was a tension between India and Nepal, and India-Bangladesh relationship warmth has also reduced.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said India wanted to isolate Pakistan, but it itself has been isolated.
The foreign minister said Pakistan provided India consular access to its spy Kulbhushan Jadhav yesterday, but the Indian diplomats avoided talking to him.
He said India’s ill intentions have been exposed as it did not want access to its spy.
Pakistan says improving bilateral ties with South Asian countries remains a priority of its foreign policy.
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas told the National Assembly during Question Hour today that despite hostile Indian attitude, Pakistan took a milestone step by deciding to open the Kartarpur Corridor and released captured Indian pilot after Indian misadventure of Balakot as a peace gesture.
She said Pakistan wishes to resolve all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir dispute through peaceful means. She, however, said that India must create an enabling environment for a result-oriented dialogue to take place.
The Parliamentary Secretary said India wanted to isolate Pakistan at the International level. But Pakistan significantly improved its relations with neighboring countries including Iran and Afghanistan over the last two years.
She said we have reopened borders with Afghanistan and trade has witnessed an increase of twenty-five percent with the neighboring countries. She said today the situation is that India is facing isolation due to various reasons. She said India is the biggest aggressor in the South Asian region.
