ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office dismissed a media report saying that the Saudi foreign minister had denied Pakistan’s mediatory role with Iran.
“Pakistan considers efforts for unity of Ummah and the Muslims as a sacred duty,” Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said on Thursday at his weekly media briefing, adding that the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Iran had appreciated Pakistan’s initiative to reduce tensions between them.
“We are in touch with both the countries and our good offices remain available to them,” he said.
He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would undergo a visit to Qatar in near future, for which the dates would be announced soon.
To a question about any pre-conditions set for the quadrilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the U.S., he said all issues relating to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan would come under discussion.
About any roadmap chalked following the January 18th quadrilateral meeting, he said, “We have to wait for the outcome of the February 6th meeting to be taken place in Islamabad.”
The Spokesman said no dates had been finalized for the foreign secretary-level meeting of Pakistan and India, adding that the agenda would be settled later on.
When asked about Pakistan’s stance taken on finding the proofs of Charsadda attack linked with Afghanistan, he said the Afghan Charge d’affaires had been summoned to Foreign Office to lodge the protest.
He said relevant details had been provided to the Afghan authorities.
To a question about Pakistan’s concern over the bombs dropped by an Indian Air Force jet in Rajhastan, very close to the Pakistan border, the Spokesman said report was being sought from the mission in New Delhi following these media reports.
Source: APP/DND
