ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister on Wednesday opposed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) decision to invite his Indian counterpart for an upcoming two-day meet in Abu Dhabi, UAE, starting on March 1.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi voiced his displeasure — in a letter sent to the OIC Secretary General, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen — over India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj being invited as the guest of honor at the event.
“We have asked the UAE to withdraw the invitation extended to the Indian Foreign Minister. Otherwise, we will have to review our decision to attend the conference,” a statement quoting Qureshi’s comments from the letter said, adding that he has asked Dr. Al-Othaimeen to play a role in this regard.
Meanwhile, taking umbrage over the issue, Salman Bashir, a Pakistani diplomat who served as the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and as the High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, told Arab News: “India has committed aggression against a founding member of the OIC. Inviting them as a guest of honor to is totally unacceptable. Need for serious introspection by the Islamic Ummah.”
However, another former diplomat, Javed Hafeez told Arab News that Pakistan “should not boycott the OIC conference, but represent it at a lower level and share its concerns with the guests, participating countries.”
The 46th session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers will be held under the theme of “50 years of Islamic cooperation.”
A day earlier, on Tuesday, FM Qureshi during a press conference in Islamabad said: “Aggression has been done against a founding member of the OIC,” referring to Indian fighter jets violating Pakistan’s airspace and targeting alleged terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday.
Pakistan demands withdrawal of OIC’s invitation to India
Pakistan demands withdrawal of OIC’s invitation to India
- FM Qureshi asks Secretary General to play a role in this regard
- UAE, which is hosting the event, had invited Swaraj as the “guest of honor”
Pakistan evacuates 31 nationals to Azerbaijan amid deepening turmoil in Iran
- Islamabad designates Baku as evacuation base for citizens seeking safe transit out of Iran, says Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan
- Security situation in Iran deteriorated after Saturday’s joint US-Israel strikes that killed country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has evacuated 31 nationals to Azerbaijan from Iran, designating Baku as an evacuation base for citizens seeking safe transit as the security situation in the Middle East deteriorates, the Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan said on Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the country amid regional tensions due to the joint US-Israel strikes against Iran. The US-Israel strikes killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering violent protests in Pakistan.
Sharif had directed Pakistani authorities to ensure the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran via Azerbaijan during the meeting. There are over 3000 Pakistani students studying in various medical and non-medical institutes of Iran, according to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran Muhammad Muddasir Tipu.
“Under directives of Honorable PM @CMShehbaz and guidance of Honorable DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50, GoP has designated Baku as the evacuation base for Pakistani nationals seeking safe transit amid the evolving situation in Iran,” the Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan said.
“On 1 March, @PakinAzerbaijan team on ground in Astara facilitated safe crossing of 31 Pakistani nationals, ensuring onward movement to Baku for return to Pakistan.”
The embassy said it remains committed to ensure the “safe and quick relocation” of its citizens back to Pakistan, thanking Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry for its support.
Tensions surged across the Middle East on Saturday after the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran. Tehran subsequently targeted US military bases in Gulf states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, which prompted condemnations from regional governments. Saudi Arabia also confirmed Iran launched attacks in Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
Tehran launched missile and drone strikes in the Middle East for the second consecutive day on Sunday in response to ongoing US-Israeli air raids that killed Khamenei, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into uncertainty and raising the risk of further instability in the volatile region.
Khamenei’s killing triggered violent protests in Pakistan on Sunday, with at least 17 people killed and over 70 injured in protests in Karachi and Skardu. Pakistan has urged protesters to remain calm in the wake of the worsening security situation in Iran.
