Pakistan’s social media users have hailed the recent warning of FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi to Saudi Arabia-led OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) on Wednesday to stop dilly-dallying on the convening of a meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir.
Appearing in a talk show on ARY News, the foreign minister said: “I am once again respectfully telling OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation. If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris.”
https://twitter.com/miqazi/status/1291353846619529217?s=20
Mr. Qureshi said that if OIC fails to summon the CFM meeting, Pakistan would be ready to go for a session outside OIC. In response to another question, he said Pakistan could not wait any further.
Pakistan has been pushing for the foreign ministers’ meeting of the 57-member bloc of Muslim countries, which is the second-largest intergovernmental body after the UN since India annexed occupied Kashmir last August.
Read more: Pakistan threatens alternative bloc if Kashmir issue not highlighted by OIC
Opposition slams FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi calls to OIC
The stern statements of Shah Mehmood Qureshi reverberated across the social mediascape of Pakistan stimulating positive reactions from the social media users. Meanwhile, the top leadership of Pakistan’s leading opposition party-PMLN subjected the government to immense criticism for disrespecting Pakistan’s strongest allies. The leadership of PML-N took to Twitter to clarify their stance-distanced themselves from the threatening statement of FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
FM’s statement about brotherly Saudi Arabia is highly unfortunate & irresponsible. It flies in the face of history of our special & trusted relationship with the Kingdom. The cavalier attitude by this govt is undermining Pakistan's core relations with friendly countries!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 7, 2020
This is a pretty big deal.
Pakistan's foreign minister is publicly criticizing Saudi Arabia, one of Islamabad's top allies.
This is rather unusual.
There's lots of important geopolitical context to keep in mind here that may help explain what's going on.https://t.co/RNfshUlb2f— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) August 6, 2020
Opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif dubbed the statements of Shah Mehmood Qureshi ‘highly unfortunate’ and ‘irresponsible’. In his tweet reinforced the brotherly and friendly relations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Pakistan. He also condemned the government for sabotaging the cordial relations of Pakistan with other Muslim countries.
Secretary General of #PMLN, #Pakistan's main opposition party, in a 3-part thread in #Arabic on Twitter, condemns the statements of Foreign Minister against #SaudiArabia as "irresponsible" & "undiplomatic"; accuses the ruling #PTI of isolating Pakistan within the Muslim world. https://t.co/uoWl9BM9xf
— Ahmed Quraishi – TV Team (@AQTVshow) August 6, 2020
Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal also tweeted in the Arabic language to express solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Iqbal also repeated the allegations against the ruling party of PTI for damaging relations with other Muslim countries. These statements are undiplomatic according to Ahsan Iqbal. The opposition parties are convinced that Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s statements were irresponsible and it will serve no good to Pakistan and Kashmir cause.
Social media cheered SMQ
However, the overall sentiments of the people of Pakistan fall in favor of the government. Twitter users hailed the aggressive and vociferous calls of the Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to the Muslim allies. They slammed the opposition politicians for confronting the government of Pakistan for boldly representing itself globally. Social media users lauded Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PM Khan for upholding the integrity of Pakistan and refusing to be no longer becoming the handmaiden and submissive to Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Minister @SMQureshiPTI tells Saudi Arabia that Pakistan will gather the support of all Muslim Countries and push to resolve the KASHMIR issue with or without Saudi Arabia (due to delays from OIC).
And this is the message that PMLN has been sending out.
This is treason! pic.twitter.com/H8fYHRJlL2— Mariam's Madness (@MaddyWithKhan) August 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/schaheid/status/1291610340107714560?s=20
Twitter users condemned the slack and apathetic attitude of Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries over the Kashmir crisis. They asserted that it is high time Pakistan should act independently to solve the Kashmir issue. Internet users believe that Pakistan acted to protect its self-respect by giving a strong call to the Arab countries.
While they send their assassins all over the world to chop their enemies. I’m actually glad we have grown some kahoonas and stood up to them. No compromise on self respect
— Ali Gul Pir (@Aligulpir) August 7, 2020
Also by making the Muslim countries and OIC realize its value when Shah Mehmood Qureshi warned them to be prepared to lose the second largest Muslim country and the only nuclear power of the Muslim world. Netizens say Pakistan should no longer compromise on its self-respect but stand up to KSA and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Read more: OIC fails Kashmir: Can Pakistan and Turkey create an alternative bloc?
Hence, opposition parties failed to stoke negative public reaction on the issue. People of Pakistan seem to be cherishing the aggressive shift in the foreign policy of Pakistan. The threatening call of Shah Mehmood Qureshi to KSA and members of OIC is another momentous step in the fight for the freedom of Kashmir following the release of the new map of Pakistan that includes the entire Kashmir in the territory of Pakistan. Social media users say Pakistan should sustain its aggressive and vociferous stance until it achieves a desirable outcome on the Kashmir issue.