Pakistan FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi cancels two foreign policy tours

Pakistan FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi cancels two foreign policy tours

ISLAMABAD - The official visits of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to Sri Lanka and the Maldives have been postponed in the light of the recent terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

Diplomatic sources have claimed that the visits were deferred due to security concerns in Sri Lanka after a series of suicide attacks shook the island country on Easter Sunday.

Qureshi was scheduled to depart for the Maldives on May 2 on a day-long visit. He was to later leave for a three-day tour to Sri Lanka from May 3.

On April 21, a coordinated string of blasts ravaged high-end hotels and churches in Sri Lanka; killing at least 259 people and injuring over 500. As many as 35 foreigners were also wounded.

The extremist Islamic State group soon assumed the responsibility for the attacks.

Sri Lankan officials have claimed that the suicide bombings in Sri Lanka were carried out in retaliation for attacks on two mosques in New Zealand that killed 50 people in March.

Pakistan had, meanwhile, condemned the barbaric explosive attacks across Sri Lanka caused numerous casualties in the strongest of terms.