Our foreign policy to begin and end at Pakistan, says FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Explaining preferences of Foreign policy, Newly-appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi asserted that foreign policy will be started and ended at Pakistan. Talking at the Foreign Office shortly after being sworn-in as a member of federal cabinet, the newly appointed minister said the government wanted peace and stability in the region. He also said that Pakistan’s foreign policy will be reviewed afresh. Discussed about the preference of PTI-led government's policy, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the first priority would be given to the country's interest and no decision will be made in discomfort or any confusion. He elaborated that some powers were trying to push Pakistan towards isolation, however, he vowed to not allow Pakistan to be isolated. The minister stressed that they will focus on the relations with neighbouring countries. He explained that there is a need for continued and uninterrupted dialogue with India and Afghanistan. He said Stating to relation with Indian, Qureshi shared his message with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj, saying that "we are neighbours. We have long-standing issues, both of us know these problems. But we have no other option but to engage in dialogue." "We will have to admit that we are facing problems, we must admit that Kashmir is a reality. The Islamabad declaration is a part of our history," he added. Qureshi said that there is need to change the direction of the country's foreign policy, adding that they are determined to resolve the challenges faced by the country. Qureshi said that he would consult with the newly-made opposition leaders including former foreign ministers Hina Rabbani Khar and Khawaja Asif. The newly appointed foreign minister informed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to PM Imran Khan in which he indicated the beginning of talks between the two countries. Qureshi also said that he may go for a visit to Kabul and wanted to go with a solid message for the people of Afghanistan. Sharing his message, he told that Pakistan and Afghanistan share a future and geography, and we have to work together and begin our long journey. Stating about the US, Qureshi termed that US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is likely to visit Islamabad in the first week of September for consultations with PM Imran Khan. "I will present Pakistan's priorities in front of him and I will speak to them in a straight forward manner. I will tell them that bilateral relations will operate on the basis of equality," he explained.