Pak to stay alert until Indian polls: FM

ISLAMABAD: Warning of possible Indian mischief, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday Pakistan will have to stay alert until general election is over in India.

“We will have to keep guard over our frontiers as everything could be expected from Modi,” he said while speaking to the media.

The foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan wants peace and resolve the issues through dialogue with India. He said there is election environment in India, and Modi regime could have any misadventure for which we are fully alert.

Qureshi said that United Nations, Russia, United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other friendly countries helped in de-escalating the tension with India and we are thankful to them.

To a question, he said that OIC adopted a resolution on Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and declared the Indian acts as terrorism. He said that Kashmiri people sacrificed with their blood and raised the issue at international level.

The foreign minister said he is leaving for China on Monday where he will exchange views with the Chinese leadership on latest prevailing situation especially the current situation with India.

The foreign minister said a joint statement issued by both countries on the Kartarpur Corridor was a positive sign. Such a statement had come after a long time, he said, adding tensions with India had eased. “I am going to China for further de-escalation in tensions. I’ll meet Chinese leadership there.”

Taking about reports on the possible release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, he said a lot of things circulating about Ms Siddiqui on social media negated the truth. “I wish we succeed in getting Aafia Siddqui released from America.”

Earlier during the day, army shot down an Indian spy drone for violating Pakistan’s air space along the ceasefire line on Saturday.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor in his Twitter message said that the spying quadcopter downed in Rakhchikri Sector of the Line of Control (LoC).

The quadcopter had come 150 metres inside Pakistan. “Pakistan army troops shot down an Indian spying quadcopter in Rakhchikri Sector along Line of Control,” the DG ISPR said.

Ghafoor detailed that the drone had come 150 metres inside Pakistan’s territory.

Last month, India, in its blatant act of aggression, violated Pakistan’s airspace while accusing Pakistan of the Pulwama attack on Feb. 14.

NNI News Service