Qureshi spoke over telephone with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, amid tensions with India following the Pulwama terror attack and the following aerial strike by Indian jets on a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot.
The Foreign Office said that the two leaders exchanged views on the current situation in the region. Both sides agreed that de-escalation was important for peace and stability in South Asia, it said.
Qureshi reportedly told Pompeo that Pakistan-US ties were important for promoting regional peace and stability. He appreciated US' role and efforts in deescalating tensions in the region. He informed Pompeo about the de-escalatory measures taken by Pakistan including the handing over of the Indian pilot.
He also urged US to play its role for resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India to find solutions to all outstanding disputes, the FO said.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pulwama attack in Kashmir which killed 40 CRPF personnel. The attack took place when a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed rammed an explosive laden truck into a CRPF convoy.
India Air Force carried out preemptive precision strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed camps in Balakot, as a counter terror operation. However, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and targeted India’s military establishments. While India downed Pakistan’s F-16 jet in the aerial engagement, Pakistan captured Indian pilot Abhinandan, but handed him over to India on March 1, under Geneva Convention.
The FO said that the two leaders agreed to continue to pursue the Afghan reconciliation process.
The two leaders also discussed Pakistan's facilitating role and agreed that the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad's forthcoming visit to Islamabad would provide an opportunity to further build on the gains made so far.