Qureshi warns Afghan leadership of ‘enemies’ relentless attempts to harm ties’

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that enemies were making relentless attempts to harm Kabul-Islamabad ties while urging the Afghan government to review its decision of withdrawing its ambassador.

Speaking to the media after offering Eidul Azha prayer in Multan, Qureshi said Afghanistan was passing through difficult times and recalling its envoy from Pakistan at this critical juncture was not an appropriate decision.

The decision by Kabul to recall its ambassador in Islamabad and other diplomats came in reaction to the reported abduction of the daughter of the envoy last week.

Selsela Alikhil, the daughter of Najibullah Alikhil, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, was allegedly kidnapped and held for several hours by unidentified assailants who left her with injuries and rope marks.

Commenting on alleged abduction of Afghan ambassador’s daughter, the minister said a comprehensive investigation was in progress and 700-hour long footage was being reviewed and 250 persons were interrogated.

Nothing would be kept hidden in the investigation but the cooperation of Afghan ambassador and his daughter was vital to dig out the truth, he remarked.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had a meeting with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Tashkent and another meeting was also in pipeline which was postponed due to Ghani’s ‘busy schedule’.

Also read: Selsela tight-lipped at evidence

FM Qureshi said the world was acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts for sustainable peace in Afghanistan but India was playing the role of a spoiler which may destabilise the region’s peace.

Indian admission on FATF

Qureshi said Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar admitted in a recent statement that Narendra Modi government had “ensured” that Pakistan remained on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) despite Islamabad meeting 26 out of 27 conditions.

India is involved in state terrorism, Qureshi said adding that the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are still facing hardships at the hands of the Indian government.

The foreign minister said that Israeli software was used by Modi government to spy on phones and Indian opposition leaders were also targeted through this spyware.

Dasu bus blast probe

Pakistan and China were jointly investigating Dasu bus incident and he was scheduled to fly for China tomorrow to hold meetings with the important personalities there, he said.

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would not be affected at any cost, the foreign minister reiterated.

Pak-Saudi ties

Responding to a question on Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, FM Qureshi rejected rumours of any strain in ties saying the Saudi foreign minister would soon visit Pakistan.

He lauded the Saudi government for releasing Pakistani prisoners and said the decision had “doubled” Eid celebrations for the released prisoners and their families.