Foreign Minister Qureshi vows to put 'Pakistan first' in US-Pak relations

In his first address as Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi today laid downhis government's foreign policy with regards to the US, asserting that it will work towards bridging the "trust deficit".

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"When US makes foreign policy, it doesn't take advice from the CIA and the Pentagon," he said, adding,"We will put Pakistan first."

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Pakistan's new foreign minister said the West had "preconceived ideas of where the foreign policy of Pakistan is made".

"Let me make it very clear Pakistan's foreign policy is made at the foreign office," he declared. "I have had the opportunity to work with Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton and Richard Holbrooke. I understand their reservations, but we will also put forward our own reservations to them," he said.

"We have input from our national security institutes there is an institutional memory and we will engage with them for the betterment of Pakistan," Qureshi said while putting fowardPM Imran Khan's foreign policy code.

"My approach on issues of foreign policy is to take everyone together. Pakistan’s focus is always united on the benefit of the people of Pakistan. Wherever I need guidance from, I will take," he said.

"There are big nations and small nations, but there is no compromise on national self-respect," Qureshi said as he took over as Pakistan's foreign minister.