Not on our soil: Pak FM on US-Iran conflict

January 07, 2020 01:12

Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for any regional conflict and play its role to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday, urging Tehran to refrain from any escalatory measures in response to the killing of a top Iranian general by America.

Maj Gen Soleimani, 62, the head of Iran's elite al-Quds force and architect of its regional security apparatus, was killed in a US drone attack while leaving Baghdad International Airport early on Friday, sparking fears of a new war in Middle East.

The strike also killed deputy chief of Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Addressing the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, Qureshi highlighted the regional situation in the wake of Soleimani's killing and Pakistan's policy on the issue.

"Pakistan's soil will not be used against any State, and Pakistan will not be part of the regional conflicts," Qureshi said.

He said Pakistan was also against unilateral action and would play its role to de-escalate tensions in the region.

"Pakistan does not support any unilateral action. If there is fire in the neighbourhood, its heat will be felt in Pakistan," he said.

Qureshi said Pakistan was asking all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

"I even urged Iran to exercise its traditional wisdom and refrain from any escalatory measures in the larger interest of the region," he said.

He also called upon the United Nations to play its role.

Qureshi said he held telephonic conversations with his counterparts from several Muslim countries, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

He conceded that the killing of the Iranian general would have serious repercussions.

"The situation in the Middle East is very sensitive, fluid and concerning," he said. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

RBI says 97.76% of Rs 2000 currency notes returned

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said 97.76 per cent of the Rs 2000 denomination banknotes have returned to the banking system, and only Rs 7,961 crore worth of the withdrawn notes are still with the public. On May 19, 2023,...

Cognizant March quarter net profit down 5.8% to $546 million

Nasdaq-listed IT services company Cognizant has reported a 5.8 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit for the March quarter to $546 million. The company in a release said its revenue guidance for the full year 2024 is...

No okay sought or given for Revanna's foreign travel: Govt

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said that no visa is required for diplomatic passport holders to travel to Germany.

Modi knew of Prajwal's crimes, let him flee country, says Rahul

Addressing election rallies in the district headquarters towns of Shivamogga and Raichur, Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was in the know about the sex scandal and he could have got Prajwal arrested within seconds but allowed him...

Defending champs India lose Thomas Cup quarters to China

Indian men's team failed to defend its title after going down fighting 1-3 to China