MULTAN – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said relationsbetween Pakistan and India are heading towards improvement.
Following Pulwama incident, both the countries had banned their airspacefor each other for international flights. However, India had expressed herwish to lift the said ban as the fare of Indian planes went up thuscreating trouble for their passengers.
Pakistan had always responded to their offer positively, the FM said,adding the recent development would help melting ice between the twocountries.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed these views at an Iftar dinner,hosted in his honour by social figure Makhdoom Zuhaib Gillani, in Multan onSunday.
He informed that his meeting with Indian foreign minister in Bishkek wasnot pre-planned. However, this meeting remained pleasant.
The foreign minister observed that Pakistan had extended an offer of talksto the new Indian government for resolving issues as talks were the onlyway forward for solution of problems between the two countries.
Shah Mehmood stated that Pakistan enjoyed friendly relationships with SaudiArabia, Iran and other countries of the region. Pakistan was of view thatthe region could not afford any war, the FM said, adding Pakistan wantedpeace in the region as was ready to play a part in easing tensions betweenIran and America.
About OIC summit, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated thatPakistan had expressed its wish that all Muslim countries should jointlyraise voice on the issue of blasphemy in order to make the west understandthe importance of the issue. Pakistan also voice for permanent solution ofPalestine issue, he added.
Qureshi said peace could only be maintained in middle East by resolving thePalestine issue. Golan heights were part of Syria and the whole Muslimworld had immense reservations on it, he added.
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Pakistan had also raised the issue of Indian Held Kashmir in the OIC. Thevoice and struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination couldnot be suppressed by the use of force as the UN reports on IHK also hintedsevere human rights violations there.
Similarly, the issue was also taken up during European Union’s hearing andall parties parliamentary commission in England. The held Kashmir problemsrequired immediate attention.
Responding to a question, Qureshi said the government would offer relief tothe poor in the budget.
He also invited opposition parties to extend their suggestion about thebudget. The opposition parties should give their proposals keeping in viewthe expenditures and resources as well as their input regarding inflation,Qureshi maintained.
He urged upon the nation to wait for some time as country would steer outof crisis soon, assuring the nation that Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI)government strongly believed in supremacy of Constitution and law.
To another question about PTM parliamentarians, Qureshi observed thatMohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were parliamentarians and their productionorders could be issued but it was necessary to see the reason why both theparliamentarians were arrested.
They remained involved in mudslinging on armed forces. It must be reviewedwhether both the parliamentarians demonstrated responsibilities or not. “Itshould also be reviewed whether they honoured their oath or not. Both theparliamentarians instigated people and attacked armed forces. Thoseviolated the country’s constitution, could not be loyal to the country,”stated Qureshi.
