*ISLAMABAD – **Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi gives anembarrassing blow to the Indian Minister in the Heart of Asia conference.*
*Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotted on Monday Indian MinisterVK Singh’s speech at the Heart of Asia conference in Turkey.*
As soon as the Indian minister began his speech, Qureshi rose from his seatand walked out of the hall.
The boycott was in protest against the brutalities and the grave violationof human rights exercised by the India government in Kashmir, according toQureshi.
In September, Qureshi boycotted the speech of Indian External AffairsMinister S Jaishankar at a SAARC ministerial meeting on the sidelines ofthe UN General Assembly in New York.
Kashmir has been under Indian siege since August 5 after Indian PrimeMinister Narendra Modi’s government revoked special status for the regionand imposed a curfew in the valley.
Pakistan condemned this and has spoked against the harsh step at manyinternational forums. The country has also downgraded all diplomatic andtrade ties with India in protest.
The 8th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process seeks topromote peace in Afghanistan under the theme of ‘Peace, Partnership,Prosperity’. It was convened at the Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the conference withAfghan President Ashraf Ghani.