Qureshi seeks EU role in addressing grave situation in IOJ&K

Foreign minister discusses Covid situation with Dutch counterpart Blok

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday stressed the need for European nations to play their role in addressing the grave situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Dutch counterpart Staphanus Abraham Blok and discussed with him matters of mutual interest, including the Covid-19 pandemic, cooperation at multilateral fora, the Foreign Office said in a statement.



During the call, Qureshi shared his deep concern over the continuing double lockdown in IOJ&K, as well as the intensification of the military crackdown, fake encounters and extrajudicial killings by the Indian occupation forces. He highlighted demonisation of the Muslims in India in the context of Covid-19, underlining that it should be rejected by the international community

The foreign minister noted the endeavours of European parliamentarians in impressing upon India to end the human rights violations in IOJ&K and grant the Kashmiri people their right of self-determination. He underlined that European partners must play their role in addressing the grave situation.

Qureshi apprised Blok of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for developing countries and underscored that coordinated and comprehensive actions were essential to create fiscal space needed by the developing world to deal with the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan in the context of recent positive developments. Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan support to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process aimed at durable peace and security in the country.



The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the socio-economic ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic. Qureshi commended the European Union’s (EU) coordinated response to strengthen financial and health sectors of member states in the wake of the crisis.

The statement said that Qureshi offered his condolences on the loss of lives in The Netherlands due to the pandemic. He stated that he was looking forward to welcoming the Dutch foreign minister in Islamabad once the Covid-19 pandemic subsided.