ISLAMABAD, Mar 01 (INP): Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said he will not attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Minister's meeting due to India's participation

He was briefing the joint sitting of the Parliament called in the wake of confrontation with India.

The session which began with Speaker Assad Qaiser presided over the session.

[timed-content-server show="03/02/2019 01:00 Asia/Karachi"]India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is invited to the OIC moot as a guest of honour despite strong protest from Pakistan. FM Qureshi also said that he would not be attending the conference in UAE. “The invitation was sent without consultation. Hence, I have decided to not attend the session,” he told the parliament. The foreign minister wrote a letter addressed to the OIC – content of which was approved by the members of the August House and political parties. “India is not a member of the OIC,” he asserted. The foreign minister revealed that Ankara and Tehran were also displeased over extending an invitation to New Delhi. Qureshi briefed the parliament on his conversation with United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “He said the invitation was extended before the Pulwama attack. But the crown prince showed the willingness to rethink the decision.” “We have a total of 19 resolutions at the OIC – all include the human rights violations committed by the Indian occupying forces in the disputed valley. Our version will be presented at the conference by other officials from the foreign ministry.” “Any bid to grant observer’s status to India will be opposed by Pakistan at the OIC.” The foreign minister said that the decision was backed by Turkey – who had promised to play their role in it. “In Hanoi, United States President Donald Trump said he did not instability in the sub-continent. The US has long-standing ties with Pakistan, recently its relations with India have improved. Trump has directed US envoys to play their part in de-escalating situating the situation. I thank him for the efforts.” “In my trip to Moscow before the Pulwama attack, I had expressed concerns about possible misadventures from Indian side. Today, the Indian nation and political opposition is vindicating Pakistan’s stance that Narendra Modi is escalating the situation for political gains,” he said as referred to Bharatya Janata Party’s (BJP) regional chief boasting that the air strike will secure at least 22 more seats for the party. INP/AJ[/timed-content-server]