ISLAMABAD: Regretting how the US downplays India’s aggressive posturing along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir has called for “ruthlessly candid dialogue” with Washington to remove all types of misconceptions and misunderstandings.

“It’s time for a courteous yet ruthlessly candid dialogue between Pakistan and the US with everything on the table,” he said while reading out a policy statement on the government’s foreign policy contours and the security situation in the National Assembly.

His statement triggered a debate on the foreign policy issues during which the MPs both from the ruling coalition and the opposition termed it “insufficient” and “confusing statement.” They were of the view that the foreign policy should originate from parliament and there should be no role of other institutions.

The minister said the perception of India was one of the foundational divergences between Pakistan and the US. He said that Washington had been trying to convince Pakistan that India was not a threat and, therefore, Pakistan should change its strategic stance. “But the truism remains true. Both India’s capacity and intents are today hostile towards Pakistan.”

Dastagir said that India has amassed men, material and garrisons along the border with Pakistan. He said that 2017 was the deadliest year in terms of LoC violations by India and the killings of civilians. “India today is a highly militaralised and an increasingly belligerent neighbour. The unrelentingly hostile and anti-Pakistan stance taken by the current Indian government has reduced drastically the space for any advocacy of peace.”

He said Pakistan was being made a scapegoat as the US was not winning in Afghanistan. He said they had cleared tribal areas, Karachi and Balochistan as a result of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and there were no safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan.

He urged the US to recognise the sacrifices which Pakistan and its people had given in the war against terror since 2001. He criticised the US for not pursuing internal reconciliation in Afghanistan which had now become a safe haven for terrorists.