Qureshi holds talks with German Foreign Minister

Islamabad: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke on telephone with Germany’s Foreign Minister Ms. Annalena Baerbock Monday.

Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored the high value Pakistan attached to its relations with Germany. The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan was determined to further deepen its collaboration with Germany across all areas of mutual benefit. The Foreign Minister said he looked forward to receiving the German Foreign Minister in Islamabad in April to continue discussions.

Discussing the situation in Ukraine, Foreign Minister said that it was a grave moment in Europe’s history. The Foreign Minister apprised his German counterpart of the Prime Minister’s phone conversation with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, as well as his own phone calls with the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Russia and with Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union. The Foreign Minister said that in all these contacts, Pakistan had stressed the importance of cessation of hostilities, establishment and maintenance of humanitarian corridors, provision of humanitarian assistance and continuous efforts for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Foreign Minister briefed Foreign Minister Baerbock regarding violation of Pakistan’s airspace by an Indian missile on 9 March 2022. The Foreign Minister, said that India had regretted what it called “accidental” firing of the missile; however, such a serious matter could not be addressed with the simplistic explanation proffered by the Indian authorities. The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan had called for a joint probe in the incident and was also calling upon the international community to take serious notice of this incident of grave nature in a nuclearized environment and play its due role in upholding and promoting strategic stability in the region.

Foreign Minister Annalena appreciated Foreign Minister for sharing perspective on bilateral and regional issues and said that she looked forward to continue these discussions.

This was the second phone conversation between the two Foreign Ministers in a month. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to remain in contact.