ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East and plead the case for de-escalation in the region.
During the meeting, he iterated that Pakistan would not involved itself in any regional conflict, but would play its part for peace.
Earlier, Qureshi landed in Mashhad where he was received by the deputy governor the Khorasan province. After visiting the Imam Reza shrine, he continued his journey to Tehran.
According to an official statement released by Pakistan’s foreign ministry in Islamabad on Saturday night, Qureshi will proceed to Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and consult on issues of regional peace and stability.
The restive Middle East region found itself on the brink of another conflict in the beginning of this month when the US killed a top Iranian military commander, Major General Qassem Soleimani, in an attack authorized by President Donald Trump.
Soleimani was a high-profile figure in his country and was thought to be the man behind Tehran’s military influence in the region. He was killed in a drone strike while he was in Baghdad only a few days after the American embassy in Iraq was targeted by pro-Iranian militiamen.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said he had instructed foreign minister Qureshi to travel to Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States to convey Pakistan’s willingness to play a constructive role for peace in the region.
Qureshi is also scheduled to fly to the US on January 16.
FM Qureshi meets Iranian President during Middle East peace mission
https://arab.news/ym34q
FM Qureshi meets Iranian President during Middle East peace mission
- The foreign minister will also visit Riyadh on Jan. 13 to discuss regional situation with Saudi authorities
- Pakistan will not involve itself in regional conflict, but will play part for peace — FM
International Cricket Council in talks to revive India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash
- Pakistan face two-point loss and net run-rate hit if they forfeit Feb. 15 match
- ICC seeks dialogue after Pakistan boycott clash citing government directive
NEW DELHI, India: The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP learnt Saturday.
Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue.
But the fixture was thrown into doubt after Pakistan’s government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo.
The Pakistan Cricket Board reached out to the ICC after a formal communication from the cricket’s world body, a source close to the developments told AFP.
The ICC was seeking a resolution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added.
The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.
Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments.
