Shah Memood Qureshi boycotts Indian delegate at Istanbul Conference

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotted the speech of the Indian delegate at a regional conference in the Turkish city of Istanbul, here on Monday.

According to the details, the 8th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia-Istanbul is in Process. Purpose of this conference is to promote peace in Afghanistan.

It was convened on Monday at Dolmabahce Palace under ‘Peace, Partnership, Prosperity’ theme.

Sources said as soon as Indian Minister VK Singh opened his speech at the conference, Foreign Minister Qureshi rose in his seat and walked out of the hall.

Pakistani officials tweeted from the venue that boycott was in protest against brutalities in Occupied Kashmir by India which has turned the disputed region into a “gigantic prison” for millions of Kashmiris.

Occupied Kashmir has been under siege since August 5 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked limited autonomy for the region and clamped a curfew to stop Kashmiris’ anger from spilling on the streets.

Pakistan has highlighted the Indian draconian step at every international forum, but the world community remains unmoved to the plight of Kashmiri people. Pakistan has scaled down diplomatic relations and snapped trade ties with India in protest against the move.

It wasn’t the first time Qureshi registered protest at international events. In September, Qureshi had boycotted the speech of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at a SAARC ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.