India should also address our concerns: Qureshi
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Islamabad, July 29: Pakistan respects India's concerns on terrorism and the Mumbai trial, and New Delhi should do the same by addressing Islamabad's interests like Kashmir and water sharing, for dialogue to succeed, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said today.
He also laid emphasis on narrowing down the trust deficit between the two sides.
"Pakistan respects their (India's) concerns and wants to accommodate them, be they related to terrorism or the Mumbai trial.
"At the same time, (India) should give importance to issues of interest to Pakistan, such as the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the waters issues, the Siachen issue and the Sir Creek issue," Qureshi said.
The two countries should sit together and talk about their concerns and then "take such steps for which there is a need, and which will restore confidence and narrow the trust deficit," Qureshi said during an interaction with reporters in the southern city of Karachi.
"This will improve the situation for both countries and the region," he said.
Responding to a question on the peace process between the two countries, Qureshi said, "Dialogue is the right path. At this time, there is no appropriate path other than talks".
Qureshi's meeting with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna ended on an acrimonious note two weeks back, with India insisting the Pakistan should address its concerns on terrorism.
Krishna, however, did extend an invitation to his Pakistani counterpart to visit New Delhi and take the discussions forward.
Qureshi later said he does not intend to visit India on a "leisure trip" but only for "meaningful dialogue".
Qureshi today recalled that when the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan had met on the sidelines of a SAARC summit in Bhutan in April, they had decided that the two sides would resume their dialogue "where it was snapped and resolve our outstanding issues through talks".
"Pakistan is always ready for wherever and whenever they want to engage us," he said.
Replying to a question on the proposed Afghanistan- Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, Qureshi made it clear that the pact would not benefit India in any way.
"There should be no confusion. The transit trade pact is only between Pakistan and Afghanistan. India has no reference or role in it," he said.
This was very clear in the "note of understanding" on the pact signed by the commerce ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan recently, he said.
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST
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