Pakistan wants to end Imran-Pompeo phone call controversy: FO

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Dr Muhommad Faisal said on Thursday said that Pakistan wanted to end the controversy of phone call held between Prime Minister Imran Khan and United States (US) Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. Addressing to the weekly press briefing, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan wanted to end Imran-Pompeo phone call controversy and want to move forward politically. “Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi has already issued a detailed clarification and we will not comment further on this matter,” he added. The FO spokesman ignored a question regarding whether the US had issued a transcript of the phone conversation that took place between the US secretary of state and the prime minister. Responding to the Kashmir issue, Dr Faisal said that last week, Indian forces martyred 10 Kashmiris. He added that international community should take notice of the violation of human rights in occupied Kashmir. To a question regarding the Chahbahar Port, FO spokesman Dr Faisal said, “India’s part in the port does not affect us.” “We have to move forward together and are assessing investment opportunities in it,” he added. Discussing about issue of Dutch caricature, FO spokesman Dr Faisal said that an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) permanent representatives had already been sought by Pakistan to discuss the matter. He also said that the foreign minister will represent Pakistan at the meeting. “The foreign minister will raise the issue of blasphemous caricatures in the meeting,” he added. The FO spokesman explained, “The FM also raised the issue with his Dutch counterpart.” “No decision has yet been taken on whether the Dutch ambassador will be expelled or any other action will be taken,” he further added. Dr Faisal said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is China’s flagship project and Pakistan and China are iron brothers. “Opening of Kartarpura passage can prove to be a turning point,” the FO spokesman added. FO Spokesman Dr Faisal explained that “attempts are being made to improve relations and remove differences between Pakistan and India” and a commercial transit point is only a “small part of the issue”. The FO spokesman termed the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s two-day visit to Pakistan a positive development. The visit is scheduled to begin on Thursday. “Zarif will meet PM Khan, FM Qureshi and other senior leaders during his visit,” the FO spokesman added. Regarding the Aafia Siddiqui case, FO Spokesman Dr Faisal said, “There is no new development in Aafia Siddiqui case.”