India Denies Pak Foreign Minister’s Claim That PM Modi Willing to Resume Dialogue
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi interpreted engagement on terror as comprehensive dialogue, something the India side denied PM Modi's letter had offered.
File photo of Pakistan PM-designate Imran Khan and PM Narendra Modi. (Image: MEAIndia/Twitter)
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New Delhi: New Delhi: Newly elected Pakistan foreign affairs minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has claimed that PM Narendra Modi has written to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan expressing interest in resuming the peace process.
However, sources have told News 18 that PM's Modi's letter to the newly sworn-in Pakistan prime Minister was a congratulatory note. There was no offer of dialogue. The letter said, according to sources, that India was committed to peaceful neighbourly relations and a terror-free region. It went on to say that India is willing to constructively engage with Pakistan on that count.
Sushma Swaraj had said in her annual press conference this year that 'terror and talks' cannot go together but 'talks on terror’ can take place referring to the engagement between the NSAs of the two countries.
But Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi interpreted engagement on terror as comprehensive dialogue, something the India side denied PM Modi's letter had offered.
Addressing a press conference after taking charge of his country's foreign affairs department, Qureshi said, "India and Pakistan have to move forward keeping realities before them."
He added that Modi had written a letter to PM Imran Khan, in which he has indicated the beginning of talks between the two countries.
Directly addressing the Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Qureshi said, "We are neighbours. We have long-standing issues, both of us know these problems. But we have no other option but to engage in dialogue. We cannot afford adventurism."
"These issues are complicated and we may face hurdles in resolving them, but we must engage. We will have to admit that we are facing problems, we must admit that Kashmir is a reality. The Islamabad declaration is a part of our history," he added.
He expressed the need for "continued, uninterrupted dialogue. This is the only way forward, in my opinion," adding, "We may have a different approach and line of thinking, but I want to see a change in how we behave."
Qureshi is one of the most seasoned Pakistani political leaders with previous experience in dealing Pakistan's foreign affairs. He served as Pakistani foreign minister between 2008-13 under then president Asif Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He also once served as provincial finance minister in the cabinet of Nawaz Sharif when he was the chief minister of the Punjab during the military rule of Gen Zia-ul Haq.
However, sources have told News 18 that PM's Modi's letter to the newly sworn-in Pakistan prime Minister was a congratulatory note. There was no offer of dialogue. The letter said, according to sources, that India was committed to peaceful neighbourly relations and a terror-free region. It went on to say that India is willing to constructively engage with Pakistan on that count.
Sushma Swaraj had said in her annual press conference this year that 'terror and talks' cannot go together but 'talks on terror’ can take place referring to the engagement between the NSAs of the two countries.
But Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi interpreted engagement on terror as comprehensive dialogue, something the India side denied PM Modi's letter had offered.
Addressing a press conference after taking charge of his country's foreign affairs department, Qureshi said, "India and Pakistan have to move forward keeping realities before them."
He added that Modi had written a letter to PM Imran Khan, in which he has indicated the beginning of talks between the two countries.
Directly addressing the Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Qureshi said, "We are neighbours. We have long-standing issues, both of us know these problems. But we have no other option but to engage in dialogue. We cannot afford adventurism."
"These issues are complicated and we may face hurdles in resolving them, but we must engage. We will have to admit that we are facing problems, we must admit that Kashmir is a reality. The Islamabad declaration is a part of our history," he added.
He expressed the need for "continued, uninterrupted dialogue. This is the only way forward, in my opinion," adding, "We may have a different approach and line of thinking, but I want to see a change in how we behave."
Qureshi is one of the most seasoned Pakistani political leaders with previous experience in dealing Pakistan's foreign affairs. He served as Pakistani foreign minister between 2008-13 under then president Asif Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He also once served as provincial finance minister in the cabinet of Nawaz Sharif when he was the chief minister of the Punjab during the military rule of Gen Zia-ul Haq.