ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan acted against India in self-defense and to demonstrate its capability and will to defend Pakistani territory against any external aggression, the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency reported.
“Pakistan wishes to de-escalate the situation,” the minister said while talking to his Japanese Counterpart Taro Kono on phone on Wednesday.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed the Japanese foreign minister on the Indian aggression against sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.
The foreign minister mentioned recent measures for de-escalation taken by the government of Pakistan which include return of the Pakistan High Commissioner to New Delhi after completion of consultations, sending a delegation to India on March 14, 2019 to discuss draft agreement on Kartarpur Corridor and commitment to continue weekly contacts at the Military Operations Directorate level.
The minister urged the Japanese side to play its role to lower tensions in the region.
The Japanese foreign minister appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision of releasing the Indian pilot to de-escalate the tensions. He encouraged India to exercise restraint and appreciated the efforts and desire of Pakistani side to resume dialogue.
During talks, the two sides reaffirmed their resolve to promote closer cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Japan.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi also informed his Japanese Counterpart that he would undertake a visit to Japan soon, which was postponed due to the rise in recent tensions in the region.
