Call on the Foreign Minister by the UK Deputy Leader of Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Deputy Leader of Opposition in the House of Commons and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party, Ms. Angela Rayner, today. Views were exchanged on bilateral relations as well as issues of regional importance.

Expressing satisfaction at the friendly relationship between the two countries, the Foreign Minister hoped that the existing cooperation will further strengthen in the future. Foreign Minister Qureshi lauded the services of the Pakistani Diaspora towards economic development of the UK and building bridges between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Qureshi apprised Ms. Rayner about the decisions taken in the Extra-Ordinary session of the OIC-Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) on Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister said that the statements of the Taliban have been encouraging and that the prospects of civil war have been averted. He urged the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan to avert humanitarian catastrophe. Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored the need of sustained and positive engagement of the international community with the Interim Setup in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed the Deputy Leader of Opposition on the Indian Government’s atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) against the innocent civilians in violations of the international humanitarian law.

Ms. Rayner felicitated Foreign Minister Qureshi on successful conclusion of the Extraordinary session of the OIC-CFM in Islamabad. Ms. Rayner acknowledged the sacrifices made by the people and Security Forces of Pakistan in fight against terrorism. Both underlined the need to take concrete steps to further expand bilateral economic and commercial ties and stressed the importance of regular interactions.

The Deputy Leader of Opposition accompanied by Lord Wajid Khan is on a four day private visit to Pakistan.

21 December 2021
Islamabad

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