26 February 2019•Update: 26 February 2019
By Islamuddin Sajid
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said he phoned his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and briefed him about the Indian jets’ intrusion into Pakistani airspace.
"Today, I spoke with Turkish foreign minister and briefed him about the Indian aggression," Qureshi told reporters in the capital Islamabad.
On early Tuesday, Indian jets intruded into Pakistan’s airspace amid mounting tensions, but “escaped” without causing any casualty, according to Pakistan army’s spokesman.
However, India claimed that its air force struck the “biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed” in Pakistan’s Balakot and killed “several terrorists”.
Tensions between the two countries mounted since Feb. 14 after a Jaish-e-Mohammed-claimed suicide bombing on an army convoy killed over 40 Indian troops, the deadliest single assault on India’s forces in three decades in Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi blames Pakistan for the attack, the charge Islamabad denies.
“Situation in the region after Indian aggression is very critical and we want to take our friends into confidence,” Qureshi said, referring to his phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan will also engage with heads of friendly countries to brief them about the current situation.
US’ Pompeo
Qureshi later telephoned U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to brief him on the situation.
The action was meant to woo votes for Indian elections in April and May, but put regional peace and stability at grave risk, said Qureshi, according to a foreign office statement.
"The Indian aggression could also affect the ongoing joint efforts to bringing peace to Afghanistan," Qureshi warned.
He added that Pakistan wants peace in the region but cannot compromise on its sovereignty.
Qureshi called the Indian action “condemnable” and said he hoped the U.S. would play its role.
Earlier, Qureshi also spoke with Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to brief them on the situation.
