Pakistan may have good relations with the United States, but that does not mean that Islamabad would support Washington’s actions, which it does not find right, said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar here on Friday, removing the impression that Pakistan would follow the US policy on all questions. When he spoke at a news conference, Dar said there was speculation that Pakistan would not take a clear attitude against the United States after it bombed three nuclear places in Iran. But Pakistan, Dar said, issued a statement that took a firm attitude against such strikes. He emphasized that having good relations with the United States does not mean to support them when they are in the wrong. The Trump administration gave up the 45-year-old policy for the United States not to launch a direct strike on Iran as it sent B-2 bomber and targeted nuclear facilities through bunker-buster bombs. Pakistan condemned the US strikes and said Iran had the right to respond to such attacks. "We were aware that Iran would not be silent without retaliation. In response, Iran targeted the US base in Qatar. Iran has now come out of this crisis of dignity after revenge. The ceasefire between Iran and Israel still holding," Dar continued. He also said that Iran appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to the UN Security Council and expressed gratitude in his parliament. Under the Iranian President’s address, parliament repeated with song from "Thanks to Pakistan." In the background, Pakistan expanded full political support to Iran to ensure that it was not isolated or undermined in this crisis. Dar added that especially when the United States attacked Iran and Pakistan’s army chief returning to the country, following Pakistan’s proposal, he stopped in Istanbul. A meeting had already been confirmed with President Erdogan. The meeting included Field Marshal, the Foreign Minister (DAR) and Pakistan’s ambassador. On the Turkish side, President Erdogan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, was the intelligence chief and management members of the leadership. The focus of the meeting was the Iran question. According to Dar, Iran Pakistan informed that although it was peaceful and not in favor of developing nuclear weapons, it would not refrain from responding to the US strike. Iran coordinated with Qatar before launching his retaliatory attack on the US Airbase located there. The Foreign Minister also emphasized that thanks to Pakistan’s initiative, a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Occupied Kashmir was also convened. He recalled that Pakistan, Iran and Turkey were the basic members of RCD (regional cooperation for development), which were later expanded to ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization). To a question, Dar said Pakistan would not request or ask someone to persuade India to start conversations with Pakistan. "We do not ask for conversations. We do not ask anyone to persuade India to talk to us," he explained. The Foreign Minister said Pakistan was not cloudy away from holding conversations with India. The Indian Foreign Minister said New Delhi would only engage in Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, Dar said, adding that Pakistan was ready to discuss the issue of terrorism as well as Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty. "There are 200 countries and I’m sure Pakistan and India can find a suitable place for conversations," he said.
‘Pakistan follows independent policy’
