Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said Pakistan was ready for dialogue with India if the latter ensured a conducive environment. The Kashmir issue was the main hurdle in talks and he would even visit New Delhi if India first stopped brutalities on the people in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and restore the special status of the Valley, he said talking to the media after inaugurating the Ramazan Relief Package here at a Utility Store. Qureshi, however, made it clear that Pakistan was not in a hurry. India would have to show some flexibility for talks on all the issues, including Kashmir, Siachen, water, Sir Creek and others as a war was no solution to resolve the same. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s government in New Delhi could not suppress the Kashmiris’ indigenous freedom movement through brutal acts. The whole world, including the European Union and human rights organizations were questioning India over the worst rights abuses in the occupied Valley. Qureshi said he even did not express his desire for a meeting with his Indian foreign minister at Dushanbe (Tajikistan), where the two were present to attend a conference. He said the ceasefire at the Line of Control, which had come into effect recently, was benefiting the people from both sides of the divide. The foreign minister said Pakistan had opened the Kartarpur Corridor as a goodwill gesture. They would welcome the Sikh community for ‘Vaisakhi’ (Baisakhi) celebrations if they were allowed by the Indian government. To a question about the recent visit of Russian foreign minister to Pakistan, Qureshi said both the countries decided to further cement their ties. A meeting would be held in Moscow during the current year to promote economic relations and the prime minister had issued special directives for its preparations. He said Russia had offered cooperation in defence filed, and provision of equipment to enhance counter terrorism capacity of Pakistani law enforcement agencies. It had also offered assistance for the uplift of railway infrastructure and energy sector, and revival of the Pakistan Steel Mills, which was installed by Russia. The foreign minister said Russia fully supported Pakistan’s strategy and policies regarding Afghanistan. Due to the successful foreign policy, he said, Pakistan also enjoyed good relations with the Central Asian republics. To a question, he had not yet talked to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser regarding the permission not given by the Afghan authorities to the aeroplane with a parliamentary delegation aboard, to land at the Kabul airport issue. The Pakistani delegation led by NA speaker was going to Kabul as a goodwill gesture. The Afghan government, he said, had taken notice of the matter and initial reports suggested that there was some security issue. Pakistan wanted friendship with a peaceful, stable, prosperous and developed Afghanistan, he added. Replying to a question, the foreign minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan did not believe in the politics of revenge. Jehangir Tareen was their companion and their doors remained always open for him. The notices were issued to some 17 sugar millers and not Jehangir Tareen alone. The Pakistan Democratic Movement leaders were jubilating that Mr Tareen would part ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) though the latter had no such intention, he added. The foreign minister said the prime minister was fully committed to the eradication of corruption as it was the main agenda of the PTI’s election manifesto. There would be no compromise on such issues, he added, while ruling out creation of any forward bloc in the party.
Sohail Ali Khan
Islamabad
