Pakistan FM Qureshi extends support to Indians affected by COVID-19 outbreak

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday expressed his support for the Indian people following a massive increase in COVID-19 cases in the country and expressed his condolences to the affected families.

Mr Qureshi said the COVID-19 crisis is another reminder that humanitarian issues require responses beyond political consideration.

“We express our support for the Indian people following the current wave of # COVID19 infections which has hit our region hard. On behalf of the Pakistani people, I offer our sincere condolences to the affected families in #India, ”Mr. Qureshi tweeted.

Pakistan continues to work with SAARC countries to foster cooperation to fight the pandemic, he said.

A record single-day increase of 3,46786 coronavirus cases pushed the number of infections in India to 1,6610,481, while active cases crossed the 25 lakh mark, according to health ministry data from the Union updates Saturday. The death toll rose to 1,89,544 with a record 2,624 additional deaths in one day, the data showed.

Pakistan has reported 157 deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest since last year, when the new number of recorded cases was 5,908, the health ministry said on Saturday.

Mr Qureshi’s tweets came amid some signs of rapprochement in India-Pakistan relations over the Kashmir issue.

India’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019 angered Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic relations with New Delhi and expelled the Indian high commissioner to Islamabad. Pakistan has also severed all air and land links with India and suspended trade and rail services.

The military of the two countries, in a surprise announcement on February 25, said they had agreed to strictly observe all ceasefire agreements along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. and in other sectors.