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Pakistan is committed to friendship with India, no war: Kasuri
Bangkok, June 23: Pakistan`s Foreign Minister said today that his country is committed to friendship with nuclear rival India, and wants to start peace talks as soon as possible despite bellicose statements from both sides.
Bangkok, June 23: Pakistan's Foreign Minister said today that his country is committed to friendship with nuclear rival India, and wants to start peace talks as soon as possible despite bellicose statements from both sides.
Foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said in an interview with the Associated Press that Pakistan has no intention of starting a fourth war with India.
“We realise that there will be no victors in a war between Pakistan and India. It really makes no sense,'' said Kasuri, who was in Thailand to attend the 18-nation Asia cooperation dialogue meeting yesterday.
“Every sensible Pakistani wants friendship with India '' he said. “War will not resolve anything. It will make things worse.''
“Any delay is not because of Pakistan. If there is any delay you must ask the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi what the cause of delay is,'' Kasuri said, without elaborating.
Kasuri said that there can be no durable peace between the two countries unless the Kashmir problem is resolved.
“The issue is about Kashmiris also. It is not just about India and Pakistan. It is far better for India and Pakistan to start talking to each other, to resolve the Kashmir issue because wars are not going to resolve this issue.''
Kasuri said Pakistan has “done all it can'' to stop guerrilla incursions, but maintained that the border cannot be completely sealed.
Even if there was ``a magical way by which the border could be sealed, will Kashmir issue die down? no, it won't,'' he said, adding the only way out is to listen to what the Kashmiris want.
Bureau Report
“We realise that there will be no victors in a war between Pakistan and India. It really makes no sense,'' said Kasuri, who was in Thailand to attend the 18-nation Asia cooperation dialogue meeting yesterday.
“Every sensible Pakistani wants friendship with India '' he said. “War will not resolve anything. It will make things worse.''
“Any delay is not because of Pakistan. If there is any delay you must ask the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi what the cause of delay is,'' Kasuri said, without elaborating.
Kasuri said that there can be no durable peace between the two countries unless the Kashmir problem is resolved.
“The issue is about Kashmiris also. It is not just about India and Pakistan. It is far better for India and Pakistan to start talking to each other, to resolve the Kashmir issue because wars are not going to resolve this issue.''
Kasuri said Pakistan has “done all it can'' to stop guerrilla incursions, but maintained that the border cannot be completely sealed.
Even if there was ``a magical way by which the border could be sealed, will Kashmir issue die down? no, it won't,'' he said, adding the only way out is to listen to what the Kashmiris want.
Bureau Report