Pakistan’s relationship with India is probably at its “lowest point”, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said even as he expressed hope that his Indian counterpart NarendraModi will use his “big mandate” to resolve all differences, including the Kashmir issue.
Khan and Modi are in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek for thetwo-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
In an interview to Russian news agency Sputnik beforeheading to Bishkek, Khan said the SCO summit provided him an opportunity tospeak to the Indian leadership to improve ties between the two neighbours.
Khan said the SCO summit provided Pakistan a “freshoutlet” to develop its relationship with other countries, including India.
“At the moment, our bilateral relationship with Indiais, probably, at its lowest point,” he said.
Khan said Pakistan was open for “any kind of mediation”and seeks peace with all its neighbours, especially with India, asserting thatthe three “small wars” have damaged both the countries that nowgrapple with the “greatest amount of poverty”.
The Ministry of External Affairs last week said that no bilateralmeetings had been planned between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Khan onthe sidelines of the SCO Summit.
Khan has twice written to Prime Minister Modi, seekingresumption of dialogue on all issues, including on Kashmir.
Modi Thursday raised the issue of cross-border terrorismemanating from Pakistan during his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping hereand said India expects “concrete action” by Islamabad to create anatmosphere free of terror for the resumption of dialogue.
Khan said the emphasis should be on peace and resolvingdifferences through dialogue.
“Our main difference with India is Kashmir. And if theheads of two countries resolve, if two governments decide, this issue can beresolved. But, unfortunately, we have not had much success from India sofar,” he said.
“But we hope now that the current prime minister hasone big mandate, we hope that he will use this mandate to develop betterrelationship and bring peace in the subcontinent,” Khan said.
He said he believed that the money should be spent ongetting people out of poverty, citing China’s example which has lifted millionsof people out of poverty.”We hope that our tension with Indiadecreases, so we do not have to buy arms because we want to spend money onhuman development. But, yes, we are looking for arms from Russia, and I knowour military is already in touch with the Russian military,” Khan said.