(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
Pakistan's new Foreign Minister extends hand of friendship to India
21 Aug 2018
Pakistan's new Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi extended the hand of friendship to India after taking the oath, by offering uninterrupted dialogue to resolve all the outstanding issues, saying it's the only wise course as the two countries cannot afford any adventurism.
Qureshi was the Foreign Minister from 2008-2011 under the Pakistan Peoples Party government. He was in Delhi during the Mumbai terror attacks.
India Pakistan haven't gotten along well in recent years
Unpleasant relations
The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place.
The ties between the two countries had strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The sentencing of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a Pakistani military court in April last year further deteriorated bilateral ties.
Qureshi welcomes Swaraj's letter over resolving issues
Bilateral issues
Qureshi, the Vice-President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, yesterday said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj sent a letter on Sunday to congratulate Pakistan PM Imran Khan and mentioned about talks to resolve issues.
"I welcome her letter. I want to tell her that we're not only neighbors but also nuclear powers. We've old issues and we need to address them," he said.
Whether we wish or not, Kashmir is an issue: Qureshi
Kashmir issue
Qureshi said Kashmir is an issue and both countries know about it.
He said former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Lahore and Islamabad and recognized the reality of Pakistan and the issue of Kashmir.
"Whether we wish or not, Kashmir is an issue and both countries have recognized it. In my opinion, there is no option other than talks to resolve it," he said.
The new PM too seeks friendship with India
Fact
Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his maiden address to the nation on Sunday, said Pakistan will hold talks with all its neighbors to normalize ties as without it peace cannot be brought in the country.
No peace in Pakistan without peace in Afghanistan: Qureshi
Afghanistan, US
Talking about Afghanistan, Qureshi said he'll make a phone call to the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan and also visit Kabul with a message that both countries have the same destiny.
"There'll be no peace in Pakistan without peace in Afghanistan," he said.
Talking about America, he said there's a trust deficit, but Pakistan wants to have good ties based on its interests.
Qureshi talks about focus towards better foreign policy
Foreign policy
Qureshi said that priority of Pakistan's foreign policy will be how we can change lives of common people through economic diplomacy.
He said his government will build a national consensus on foreign affairs.
"I'll follow the bipartisan approach on the issues of foreign policy," he said.
He announced that he will invite Opposition leaders for consultations before the next month's UN General Assembly session.
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