Pakistan assured it will deal firmly with militants: Bolton
Pakistan is taking steps to deal with extremism in consultation with the political leadership
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister
islamabad — Pakistan has assured the US that it will deal “firmly” with all militants and take steps to de-escalate tensions with India, according to US National Security Adviser John Bolton.
The assurance was given by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a phone call on Monday, Bolton said in a tweet
“Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan,” Bolton said.
“The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all militants and will continue steps to de-escalate tensions with India,” he tweeted.
Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-eMuhammed (JeM) killed 40 Indian troops in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.
In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the purpose of Qureshi’s call was to provide Bolton Pakistan’s perspective on the “recent regional developments.”
Qureshi said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to hand over the Indian Air Force pilot as a gesture of goodwill towards India. Pakistan wished peace and stability in the region, he was quoted as telling the US National Security Adviser.
The foreign minister also informed Bolton that Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India has returned to Delhi after consultations.
Also on Tuesday, Qureshi during a meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, said that the government is ensuring implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) in both letter and spirit.
Maas arrived in Islamabad earlier in the day accompanied by a delegation.
Emphasising that the war against terrorism is a regional as well as a global concern, Qureshi said: “the government of Pakistan is implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) in both letter and spirit.”
“Pakistan is taking steps to deal with extremism in consultation with the political leadership,” the foreign minister added.
Qureshi said he apprised his German counterpart of the steps Pakistan took to lower the tension in the aftermath of the February 14 Pulwama attack. Mass acknowledged Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process.
Germany and Pakistan enjoy good relations and we desire further cooperation with Pakistan in trade as well as other sectors, the German minister said. —