*ISTANBUL: **Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi gives anembarrassing blow to Indian diplomat at international conference.*
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday boycotted the speech of theIndian delegate at a regional conference in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The 8th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process – whichseeks to promote peace in Afghanistan – was convened on Monday atDolmabahce Palace under ‘Peace, Partnership, Prosperity’ theme.
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.
The boycott was in protest against brutalities in Occupied Kashmir by Indiawhich has turned the disputed region into a “gigantic prison” for millionsof Kashmiris, according to tweets posted by Pakistani officials from thevenue.
Occupied Kashmir has been under siege since August 5 when Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s government revoked limited autonomy for the region andclamped a curfew to stop Kashmiris’ anger from spilling on the streets.
Pakistan has highlighted the Indian draconian step at every internationalforum, but the world community remains unmoved to the plight of Kashmiripeople. Pakistan has scaled down diplomatic relations and snapped tradeties with India in protest against the move.
It wasn’t the first time Qureshi registered protest at internationalevents. In September, Qureshi had boycotted the speech of Indian ExternalAffairs Minister S Jaishankar at a SAARC ministerial meeting on thesidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Afghan counterpartAshraf Ghani inaugurated the conference.
In his speech, Erdogan called on the international community to boostinvestments in Afghanistan during “sensitive” times the country has beengoing through.