ANKARA, 4 March 2019: Speaking at an event held at the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) in Ankara today, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, underlined the need for the resolution of the core dispute of Jammu & Kashmir for lasting peace in South Asia.
The event organized by SDE on the topic; “Pakistan in the international system: regional and global perspectives,” was attended by members of the local diplomatic community, academia, think-tanks as well as a large number of media representatives.
Referring to the recent tensions in South Asia, Ambassador Qazi emphasized that peace, development and prosperity remained the top foreign policy priorities of Pakistan within South Asia and beyond.
He called on the international community, in particular the United Nations, to play its legal and moral responsibility towards upholding the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir as promised by relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He also appealed to the conscience of the global community to end the on-going human rights abuses and atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris by the Indian occupation forces.
Ambassador Qazi said that the recent events in South Asia had once again demonstrated that peace and stability in the region could only be achieved through dialogue. Despite India’s irresponsible and highly provocative actions, Pakistan continued to pursue the path of peace as demonstrated by Prime Minister of Pakistan’s leadership and vision during the crisis as well as his gesture to release the captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on 1 March 2019.
He added that in contrast to the bellicose rhetoric and war frenzy being fomented by Indian political circles and media, Pakistan’s overtures for peace and dialogue were receiving strong appreciation and recognition by the international community.
The Ambassador of Pakistan also expressed his deep gratitude to the people and the Government of Turkey for their steadfast support to Pakistan, and welcomed the call by President of Turkey, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the resolution of all issues in South Asia through dialogue. He also welcomed Turkish government’s offer for mediation in this regard.