ISLAMABAD: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz has ‘apologised’ to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other leaders of Muslim countries for not being able to present them with a chance to address the US-Arab-Islamic Summit recently held in Riyadh, said the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday.
Some leaders of the Muslim world could not address the summit due to shortage of time, FO Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria told a weekly briefing. “Over 30 leaders of Muslim countries were expected to deliver their remarks at the summit. However, due to severe paucity of time – since the summit started behind schedule – only a few leaders, besides Saudi king and US president, could address the gathering. The king personally apologised to the remaining Muslim leaders who could not get the opportunity to speak,” he said.
Referring to the recent award given to an Indian army officer who used a Kashmiri youth as a human shield, the spokesperson said it is “a crime and an insult to humanity”. “This is not the first time that the Indian occupation forces have displayed such cowardice and inhumanity,” he said, and added that India is involved in perpetrating and financing terrorism inside Pakistan. “The confessional statement of Kulbushan Jhadav confirms Indian involvement in espionage and subversive activities inside Pakistan.”
About Kulbushan case, the spokesperson said, “Indian claim of victory in the International Court of Justice is incorrect and misleading. The ICJ has just stayed the execution and we are preparing for the next hearing of the case.”
Responding to a question, he said, “The international community including the United States and the United Nations have expressed their concerns on the situation at the Line of Control. India is heightening tension at the LoC in order to divert attention from its perpetual atrocities in the Occupied Kashmir.”
About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Nafees Zakariya said, “It is an economic development project which entails benefits not only for Pakistan and China but the entire region. Many countries have expressed their interest to join the mega project. There is no reason for any country to make the project controversial.”
