- McCain “a man of integrity and a champion of civility,” Qureshi says
- As the new administration prepares to receive Pompeo next month, the Foreign Office handout proclaimed that Senator McCain “will be greatly missed in Pakistan.”
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi paid tribute on Sunday to US Senator John McCain, who died on Saturday.
In an official handout, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the thoughts and prayers of the people of Pakistan were with the family and friends of the deceased American politician.
“Senator John McCain had an illustrious military and public service career and was admired across the spectrum of US politics as a man of integrity and a champion of civility,” the statement said.
“As Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator McCain always stood for strong Pakistan-US relations and a cooperative approach for promoting peace and building stability in the region,” it added.
Ties between Islamabad and Washington are at a low ebb currently, although Pakistan’s newly elected administration has expressed its desire for mutually beneficial relations with the US.
However, the trust deficit between the two sides has only increased in recent days, as illustrated by a recent telephone conversation between State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The US Department of State asserted in a statement that Pompeo had urged Khan over phone to deal with “terrorists operating in Pakistan,” a claim that was quickly described by Foreign Minister Qureshi as “counter-factual.”
As the new administration prepares to receive Pompeo next month, the Foreign Office handout proclaimed that Senator McCain “will be greatly missed in Pakistan.”