Pakistan has taken strong exception to the unwarranted reference against it in the Indo-US joint statement issued after talks between US Secretary of State and Secretary Defense with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi.    

In his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan rejects the baseless allegations and has conveyed its position to the US side.      

He said mentioning of a third country with unsubstantiated accusations in a formal outcome document is inconsistent with established diplomatic norms.

He said what is more ironic is that many other thorny issues involving the third country were avoided in the joint statement by the Indian side.    

Dr Muhammad Faisal asked the US side to also focus similarly if not more on the Indian state terrorism and the resulting humanitarian emergency in Indian occupied Kashmir.   

The Spokesperson confirmed that India and Pakistan are in contact with each other through track-two diplomacy.    

To a question, the Spokesperson said Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Saudi Arabia but dates will be announced later.     

He said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Kabul on Saturday during which important matters relating to peace and security will be discussed.     

The Spokesperson said Pakistan has closed its consulate in Jalalabad due to security concerns. He said the matter has been taken up with Afghan officials who have assured to address the concerns.      

To a question, the Spokesperson categorically rejected that Pakistan is considering renegotiating the CPEC with China.