EU lauds Islamabad's role in defusing Pak-India tensions

Tehmina Janjua, Jean-Christophe Belliard co-chair 5th round of Pakistan-EU Political Dialogue

The European Union (EU) acknowledged Islamabad's role in defusing tensions with New Delhi during the fifth round of Pakistan-EU Political Dialogue held in Brussels on Wednesday.

The talks were co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Jean-Christophe Belliard.

Janjua said the release of the captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a gesture of peace and reactivation of hotline between Directors Generals Military Operations were steps taken to diffuse the situation.



She added that the return of Pakistan’s high commissioner to New Delhi and convening of the meeting in connection with opening of Kartarpur Corridor had also been done to de-escalate tension between the two nuclear-armed nations.

She said that New Delhi's airstrike in Pakistani territory was a gross violation of international law.

The foreign secretary doubled down that Islamabad acted in self-defence with restraint, adding that Pakistan had renewed its offer of dialogue to India to address all outstanding issues.

Discussing the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK), the foreign secretary urged the EU to speak out against the human rights violations perpetrated by the Indian regime.

FS Tehmina Janjua led the #Pakistan side at the 5th session of Pak-EU Political Dialogue in Brussels today. The #EU delegation was led by Deputy Secretary General EEAS Jean-Christof Belliard

The entire spectrum of Pak-EU relations, including global and regional issues discussed pic.twitter.com/Q9mnsQ5vAb

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 20, 2019

She also called for the EU to lend its support to various international reports documenting such violations including that of the UN high commissioner for human rights.

She also briefed Belliard on Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the ongoing talks between the US and Afghan Taliban.

"Reiterating that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, she emphasised that a politically negotiated settlement, led and owned by the Afghans, was the only sustainable way forward," the statement released by the Foreign Office read.

The EU side commended and expressed support for Pakistan’s constructive role in the Afghan peace process.

The two sides exchanged views on regional peace and security, as well as, various facets of bilateral relations with a particular focus on trade and investment.