Trump to take up Kashmir issue with Indian leadership in New Delhi: FO

ISLAMABAD:  Foreign Office has said that the US President Donald Trump during his upcoming trip to India should discuss the Kashmir issue with the Indian leadership.

At her weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui hoped that the offer of mediation expressed by the US President will be taken forward through some concrete practical steps.

She said Pakistan welcomes the letter written by the US Senators to the US Secretary of State drawing attention to the plight of people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

She said voices are rising across the world calling upon Indian authorities to give fundamental freedoms to the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

Replying to a question about the Afghan peace process, Farooqui hoped the peace deal between the US and the Afghan Taliban will be signed immediately.

She expressed the confidence that the deal will lead to an Afghan dialogue. She said Pakistan wants more than any other country in the world to see tranquility and solidity return to Afghanistan.

Referring to the recent visits of the UN Secretary-General and the Turkish President, Aisha Farooqui said these show a growing acknowledgment by the international community of Pakistan’s contributions towards global peace and security.

About Pakistani students in China, she said a special task force comprising of two officers of our mission in Beijing has been sent and deployed in the Chinese city of Wuhan and its mandate is to make sure the safety of Pakistani students.

She said the task force has already visited seven universities in Wuhan where they have individually met every Pakistani student besides interacting with the administration of those universities.

Asked about the arrests of Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia, she strongly turned down the inkling that it is a Pakistani specific campaign.

She said our consulate in Jeddah remains in touch with the Saudi officials on this issue and is taking all possible steps within the local rules and regulations to defend the interests of the Pakistani community.