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BEIJING: Pakistan foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday seemed to jeopardize the peace talks with India just two days before it is scheduled to begin. He countered Indian foreign ministrys view that the talks should focus on the issue of terrorism.
If India restricts the agenda or tries to narrow it down to its own immediate needs, then much progress will not be reached, he said while speaking at a meeting organized by a Chinese government think-tank. He also tried to rope in China in the peace process between the two countries as a mediator although India has all along been against third-party intervention. "It is for the Indians to decide if they would be comfortable to have China talking as a third party to bridge the gap. As far as Pakistan is concerned they (China) have a blank cheque," he said while speaking at the State-run China Institute of International Studies.
Within hours of his statement at a meeting in Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry indicated it was not interested in taking up his offer.
Qin Gang, the foreign ministry spokesman, said China supported efforts to settle disputes between India and Pakistan as both the countries were important and friendly neighbors. He avoided a direct reply on whether China will accept the offer to mediate and suggested that Beijing preferred a bilateral settlement of disputes between the two countries.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said on Monday that the issue of terrorism and Pakistans inability to curb it would be the essential focus of the foreign secretary level talks on February 25.
Qureshi questioned this viewpoint when he said that focusing on terrorism would be a very narrow way of looking at real challenges. He advised India not to succumb to political considerations as it did by canceling the talks after the attack on Mumbai. The Pakistani foreign minister revealed that China played a positive role in defusing Indo-Pak tensions and protecting Pakistans image in the world community when emotions ran high after the Mumbai attack.
We want a dialogue, but we want a meaningful dialogue. And we want all issues that are of concern to both sides to be brought on the table so that dialogue is serious, meaningful and will result oriented, he said. Pakistan is keen on discussing the Kashmir issue during the secretary level talks.
Qureshi said the meeting will be exploratory in nature. If they have the same spirit, the spirit Pakistan is demonstrating, a constructive approach to which we are approaching this dialogue, then obviously progress will be made and we will take next step of resumption of composite dialogue, he said.
My message to friends in India is wake up. Realise what Pakistan is doing. What Pakistan is doing today is in Indias long-term interest. If we can successfully defeat the extremists and terrorists will benefit entire region, Qureshi said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 607924.cms
If India restricts the agenda or tries to narrow it down to its own immediate needs, then much progress will not be reached, he said while speaking at a meeting organized by a Chinese government think-tank. He also tried to rope in China in the peace process between the two countries as a mediator although India has all along been against third-party intervention. "It is for the Indians to decide if they would be comfortable to have China talking as a third party to bridge the gap. As far as Pakistan is concerned they (China) have a blank cheque," he said while speaking at the State-run China Institute of International Studies.
Within hours of his statement at a meeting in Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry indicated it was not interested in taking up his offer.
Qin Gang, the foreign ministry spokesman, said China supported efforts to settle disputes between India and Pakistan as both the countries were important and friendly neighbors. He avoided a direct reply on whether China will accept the offer to mediate and suggested that Beijing preferred a bilateral settlement of disputes between the two countries.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said on Monday that the issue of terrorism and Pakistans inability to curb it would be the essential focus of the foreign secretary level talks on February 25.
Qureshi questioned this viewpoint when he said that focusing on terrorism would be a very narrow way of looking at real challenges. He advised India not to succumb to political considerations as it did by canceling the talks after the attack on Mumbai. The Pakistani foreign minister revealed that China played a positive role in defusing Indo-Pak tensions and protecting Pakistans image in the world community when emotions ran high after the Mumbai attack.
We want a dialogue, but we want a meaningful dialogue. And we want all issues that are of concern to both sides to be brought on the table so that dialogue is serious, meaningful and will result oriented, he said. Pakistan is keen on discussing the Kashmir issue during the secretary level talks.
Qureshi said the meeting will be exploratory in nature. If they have the same spirit, the spirit Pakistan is demonstrating, a constructive approach to which we are approaching this dialogue, then obviously progress will be made and we will take next step of resumption of composite dialogue, he said.
My message to friends in India is wake up. Realise what Pakistan is doing. What Pakistan is doing today is in Indias long-term interest. If we can successfully defeat the extremists and terrorists will benefit entire region, Qureshi said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 607924.cms
