He was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi on his arrival at the Beijing airport.
He was then taken to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse where he was warmly received by FM Yi and discussions between the two began.
Before leaving for Beijing, Qureshi said he will apprise Islamabad’s “trusted friend” about the situation after New Delhi downgraded its portion of Kashmir from statehood to a territory, limited its decision-making power and eliminated its right to its own constitution.
The foreign minister’s visit came in the wake of heightened tensions with India after it unilaterally scrapped Kashmir special status amid a severe clampdown in the held region along with deployment of additional force.
It had also imposed a curfew in the region, which now has entered the fifth day, after ordering the pilgrims and tourists to leave the region.
India this week revoked Article 370, which gave occupied Kashmir an autonomous status and legislated to bifurcate the region into Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to New Delhi’s move to annex occupied Kashmir, Pakistan on Wednesday resolved to downgrade diplomatic relations with India and suspend all bilateral trade.
India, however, has termed it an “internal matter” and asked Pakistan to review its decision. Meanwhile, a communications blackout and security clampdown imposed late Sunday in occupied Kashmir entered its fifth day on Friday. By Thursday, Indian security forces had arrested more than 500 people in the region.
