ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday thanked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for American participation in the United Nations Security Council debate over India’s “continuing regressive policies” in Kashmir on August 5, adding that the Security Council deliberations had once again reaffirmed the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an official handout circulated in Islamabad, Qureshi had a phone call with the US official in which he discussed the United States-Pakistan relations along with other regional developments.

Stressing the importance of the bilateral relations between the two countries, the foreign minister said that “Pakistan would be a partner for peace with the US.”

Qureshi also noted that “the continued interest and commitment of the international community would help generate the necessary momentum toward the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN Security Council security resolutions.”

Reviewing the recent developments in Afghanistan, he also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to an inclusive and comprehensive political settlement in the war-torn country.

“The Foreign Minister stressed that the Afghan peace process should be pursued in earnest. Noting the holding of Loya Jirga, he expressed the hope that a conducive environment would be created for the earliest convening of the intra-Afghan negotiations,” said the statement.

Exchanging notes on the COVID-19 pandemic, Qureshi thanked Pompeo for the US support and assistance. He also added that the government’s “smart lockdown” policy had helped Pakistan gradually open up its economy.