Sunday, December 21, 2008

Qureshi urges restraint over Indian rhetoric

The World

Pakistan


Qureshi urges restraint over Indian rhetoric
By Fasihur Rehman, KhanCorrespondent
Published: December 21, 2008, 23:51


Islamabad: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi says it is easy to indulge in sentimental dialogues and statements, but Pakistan and India cannot afford to allow "people with little brains" endanger future of their people by going to war.

"We cannot let warmongers endanger both countries. Escalation of the tensions is not in our interest as war will bring destruction to both the countries," Qureshi told media as he was asked to respond to threats by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Statement

The Indian minister, during the last few days, has repeatedly asked Pakistan to fully cooperate with India in handing over the suspects wanted in the Mumbai attacks or else India would carry out one of many options available, unilateral military strikes being one of them.


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India has also asked Pakistan to dismantle the militant infrastructure allegedly being used to strike inside India. The Pakistani Foreign Minister has responded that Pakistan didn't want escalation of the situation, asserting at the same time that the country's defence capability was in full gear, and government and masses were fully alive to any situation.

Regarding the repeated demands by the Indian side for handing over the fugitives allegedly hiding in Pakistan, Qureshi said Pakistan has its own law and courts and it would act according to its own justice system. "India has to see to its own laws and seek guidance from its parliament, so is the case with Pakistan. We have repeatedly said we ready for cooperation with India because it is in the interest of Pakistan."

"Pakistan is acting very wisely in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. We are not isolated internationally as the international community has appreciated the recent steps taken by the country," Qureshi said, adding "Pakistan is partner to the international order and we cannot afford steps which can push us towards the international isolation".

The foreign minister believed that the world community knew well the nature and history of 60 years of Pakistan-India relations that had gone through many an ups, downs, and bitterness. "However, we cannot afford to alienate ourselves from world opinion. We not only see what India is up to, but how the important world capitals think about us."

Afghanistan

Zardari's visit in january

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi said President Asif Ali Zardari will now pay a state visit to Afghanistan in the first week of January. "We will see a breakthrough in Pak-Afgan relations on the occasion of President Zardari's visit. There was some stress in bilateral relations, earlier," he said.

Qureshi said he had gone to Kabul recently to meet the Afghan Foreign Minister to prepare for the meeting. "There was a good progress, good breakthrough in our talks," the foreign minister informed.

Officials said Zardari postponed his Kabul visit last Friday due to weather conditions. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a history of troubled relations especially after 9/11 and in the rule of former president Pervez Musharraf, during which Afghanistan often accused Pakistani of giving safe shelter to Al Qaida and Taliban militants.

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