ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held detailed talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during a phone call on Monday where the two exchanged views on the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The statement released by the Foreign Office on Monday added that FM Qureshi offered his condolences on the loss of precious lives due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Kingdom and highlighted measures taken by Pakistan to contain the spread of the deadly disease.
“The two foreign ministers exchanged views about the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic,” the statement said, adding that the Saudi FM expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat the outbreak.
Qureshi also shared his concern over the “continuing double lockdown as well as the intensification of a military crackdown" in Indian-administered Kashmir and "attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory by introducing new domicile law."
He lauded recent statements by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international bodies, pushing for urgent steps to resolve the issue.
The statement said that the Saudi FM reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the Kashmir cause. At the same time, the two foreign ministers agreed to remain in "close contact" to take the bilateral agenda forward and ensure "close cooperation in various fields."
