Ready for talks if India creates conducive environment: FM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready for dialogue with India provides it creates a conducive environment, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Qureshi said Kashmir was the main hurdle in talks with India, adding that he would be ready to go to Delhi for talks if India would stop brutalities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

He said there were issues with India including Kashmir, Siachen, Water, Sir Creek and others.

He said that dialogues would only possible when India would show some flexibility, adding that Pakistan was not in a hurry.

The Foreign Minister stated that war was not solution of issues rather dialogue should be conducted to settle problems between both the countries.

BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government could not change the ideology and feelings of the Kashmiri people, the minister said adding, the whole world including European Union, and international human rights organizations were raising questions over India.

Qureshi said that he and Indian foreign minister were together at Doshumbe recently but he (Qureshi) did not express any wish for conversation with his Indian counterpart. He said that the recent ceasefire with India was benefiting people across LOC (Line of Control).

He said Pakistan had opened the Kartarpur corridor as good will gesture and would be ready to welcome the Sikh community for ‘Vaisakhi’ if the Indian government would allow them.

To a question about recent visit of Russian Foreign Minister to Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said both the countries decided to further cement their ties.

He said a meeting would be held at Moscow this year to promote economic relations and the prime minister has issued special directives for its preparations.

Qureshi said Russia has offered cooperation in defense, and provision of equipment to enhance counter terrorism capacity, adding that Russia has also offered cooperation for uplift of railways infrastructure, energy sector and revival of steel mills which was installed by Russia.

The foreign minister said Russia fully supported Pakistan’s strategy towards Afghanistan.
Due to our successful foreign policy Pakistan also enjoyed good relations with Central Asian republics, he said.

To a question regarding the issue of Pakistani parliamentary delegation’s aeroplane landing in Afghanistan, Qureshi said the delegation led by speaker national assembly was going to Kabul as a goodwill gesture and added that he has not yet talked with speaker national assembly Asad Qaiser.

However, the Afghanistan government took notice of the issue and initial reports suggested there was a security issue.

He said that Pakistan wanted friendship, peace and stability there and a prosperous and developed Afghanistan.

Replying 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 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.

The prime minister, he said, had a meeting with the parliamentarians from South Punjab in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar a day before. The funds of Rs 700 million initially required for the South Punjab Secretariat had been released while the March 29 notification about its powers had also been withdrawn.

Qureshi said the prime minister would soon visit the South Punjab for opening the offices of its secretariat at Multan and Bahawalpur.

He said in the past the development funds meant for South Punjab were spent elsewhere in the province. Separate funds would be allocated for it in the upcoming Punjab budget, he added.

He said the Punjab chief minister had assured that the next provincial cabinet meeting would be held in Multan.

The minister said the prime minister had sanctioned a separate jobs quota for the youngsters of South Punjab on their recommendations and now the hardworking youth of the area would get employment on merit.

He said committees headed by local parliamentarians had been constituted at divisional level, which would hold meetings on monthly basis, which would be attended by the government officials to resolve the problems faced by the masses.

Qureshi said Rs four billion had been approved for the construction of a modern mother and child care hospital at Wilayatabad in Multan. Its foundation stone would be laid soon as the tendering process was in progress. It would be Nishtar-III Hospital as it would be interlinked with the Nishtar Hospital.

The foreign minister said the government was fully alive to control inflation, which was caused by the big mafia of hoarders and profiteers. The prime minister was chairing meetings every week on the issue.

The government, he said, was trying to manage the demand and supply gap of commodities through their import. It had also given relief in taxes, while the administration was tasked to control inflation.