FM welcomes opposition’s suggestion on security matters

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the government welcomed opposition's suggestion to debate on the security matter and in this regard, he had called a session of the NA foreign affairs committee. Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated while commenting on the security situation in the wake of two attacks in North Waziristan and Balochistan that left 10 armed forces personnel martyred. The briefing in this regard was sought by Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif. Addressing a floor of National Assembly, the minister said he would take the committee in confidence on the full context, substance and content of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent visit to the US. “We may have 100 differences of political nature but there is no difference in this nation on Pakistan's borders, geography, ideology and defence,” Qureshi said. The minister said Pakistan should proceed with the same unity as shown by the parliament in response to Indian aggression in February. “The world expects Pakistan to reaffirm that we are one nation with one objective and we desire peace and stability because our own peace and stability is linked to Afghanistan’s peace and stability.” He said the stance of US government towards Pakistan has changed during 11 months of incumbent government. “The prime minister put Pakistan’s point of view in front of US authorities in a clear way,” he said. FM Qureshi said for the first time elections were held in erstwhile FATA and tribal people entered into national stream. He further said Pakistan is not supporting any specific group in Afghanistan, adding that President Ghani was apprised of our purposes in Afghan peace process. The minister regretted that elements are still present in Afghanistan who come into Pakistan to carry out attacks, and they have their own agenda. He said Prime Minister Imran had convinced Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the Trump administration that if Pakistan was engaging the Afghan Taliban, it was an effort to take the peace process forward. He termed as positive the statement by the Afghan Taliban that they would visit Pakistan if formally invited by the government. “It was an acknowledgement of Pakistan's efforts that its leadership was invited to visit the US after five years,” Qureshi maintained. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iV2Ygh2xGM