Pakistan has declined to attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) foreign ministers meet in Abu Dhabi in protest against Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj being invited as "guest of honour".
This was announced by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday during the joint session of parliament.
Pakistan on Wednesday had officially conveyed to the OIC that it may have to boycott the foreign ministers conclave if the invitation extended to the Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to be guest of honour at its inaugural session is not withdrawn.
"I requested them [UAE] to review the decision [on invitation to India]. UAE said that when we extended the invitation, Pulwama had not occurred," Qureshi told lawmakers on Friday, adding that UAE officials said "it would be hard to retract the invitation", Geo reported.
In his letter to OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Qureshi said that Pakistan had asked the UAE to withdraw the invitation.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is in Abu Dhabi to attend the conclave of foreign ministers where she will address the plenary.
"Recognising India's engagement with the Islamic world. EAM SushmaSwaraj arrives in Abu Dhabi for the Ministerial Meeting of India has been invited by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of UAE as the 'Guest of Honour'," Raveesh Kumar, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said.
On Thursday, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan as part of his efforts to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions and underlined the importance of dialogue and communication in resolving differences.
The Crown Prince, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in a tweet said he spoke to Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Khan.
Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group.
India carried out air strikes against the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. Pakistan retaliated on Wednesday.
