ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The US National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton on Monday concurred with apprehensions raised by the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi regarding any Indian misadventure keeping in view the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency reported.
Holding a telephonic conversation with Qureshi to discuss regional security situation following the Pulwama incident, Ambassador John Bolton said that he and the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, despite being actively engaged in talks with DPRK in Hanoi, monitored the developments between India and Pakistan and kept contact with the leadership of two Countries to ensure that the security situation in the South Asia region did not deteriorate.
John Bolton appreciated Pakistan measures which had helped lowering the tension and urged continued restraint on both sides.
The foreign minister provided him Pakistan’s perspective on the recent regional developments. He said that Indian aggression of February 26 was a violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as the UN Charter. He also said that Pakistan’s response on February 27 was purely in self-defense against external aggression.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi informed the ambassador about the de-escalatory measures taken by Pakistan. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to hand over the Indian pilot as a gesture of goodwill towards India.
Qureshi said that Pakistan wished peace and stability in the region. He said that Pakistan’s High Commissioner to New Delhi had also returned to Delhi after consultations.
The minister told the US national security advisor that Pakistan would send an official delegation to India on March 14, 2019 to discuss the agreement on the operationalization of the Kartarpur Corridor. He said that Pakistan was also ready to continue weekly contacts at the Military Operations Directorate level.
During the conversation, both sides emphasized the need for dialogue between Pakistan and India to find peaceful resolution to all outstanding disputes.
The US national security advisor also appreciated Pakistan’s important role in the Afghan peace process.
Both the leaders agreed to work together to pursue the process.
