Colombo, February 24 (newsin.asia): In the context of the February 14 terror strike in Kashmir, and allegations that the terror-group Jaish-e-Mohammad which claimed responsibility for the carnage, has the backing of the Pakistan government, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi called his Sri Lankan counterpart Tilak Marapana to assert that “Pakistan is a responsible country which desires peace and stability in the region.”
“Peace is a precursor for socio-economic benefits and prosperity,” Qureshi told Marapana.
He drew Marapana’s attention to the fact that the President of UN Security Council had “underscored the importance of maintaining a peaceful South Asia.”
In his response, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said that his country staunchly supports peace in the region, and reiterates that maintaining stability in South Asia should be a priority for all countries.
Following the suicide attack carried out by the JeM on a convoy of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in which 44 para-military personnel were killed, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to give Pakistan a “fitting reply” and that he would work for the “isolation of Pakistan” in the comity of nations. The Indian Minister of Water Resources Nitin Gadkari had threatened to disregard the Indus Water Treaty and deny water to Pakistan as a retaliatory measure.
The terror attack issue was taken to the UN Security Council. The UNSC condemned the act and called for the restoration of peace in South Asia but without pointing an accusing finger at Pakistan.
(The featured image at the top is that of Shah Mohammad Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan)
