Pakistan PM Imran Khan Discusses Kashmir With Saudi, UAE Foreign Ministers

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday discussed the situation in Kashmir with visiting foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Tension between India and Pakistan has spiked after New Delhi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories.

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday and were received by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Khan said that Saudi Arabia and the UAE along with the world should play a role in urging India to reverse its recent decision on Kashmir.

A statement released by Khan’s office said, “Both countries would remain engaged to help address the current challenges, defuse tensions, and promote an environment of peace and security”.

The two ministers also visited the Foreign Office and held a detailed meeting with Qureshi, who briefed them about the latest situation in Kashmir.

The two ministers are expected to meet Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said his county will not use nuclear weapons first, according to news agency Reuters. “We both are nuclear-armed countries. If these tensions increase, the world could be in danger,” Khan said addressing members of the Sikh religious community in eastern city of Lahore. “There will be no first from our side ever,” Reuters quoted Khan as saying.

Khan said war is not a solution to any problem. "I want to tell India that war is not a solution to any problem. The winner in war is also a loser. War gives birth to host of other issues," he said.

Recalling his previous telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khan said, "I told him that there are similar circumstances both in Pakistan and India. I told him about the climate change. We are sitting on a ticking bomb. If we do not address this issue (climate change) there will be scarcity of water (in both countries). I told him that we together can solve the Kashmir dispute through dialogue."

Expressing his frustration over "no response" from India for his efforts to talk to Pakistan, Khan said: "Whatever effort I made India was acting like a super power asking us to do this and not to do that (for talks). It was giving us dictation."

HIGHLIGHTS

• The ministers were received by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
• Khan said that Saudi Arabia and the UAE should play a role in urging India to reverse its recent decision.
• Tension between India and Pak have spiked after New Delhi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.