Friday, July 16, 2010

India not ready for talks: Pakistan foreign minister

In a subtle move to put blame on India for the 'apparent failure' of the Indo-Pak talks, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that India was not fully prepared for the talks.

Qureshi also said that Pakistan has its own interests and India should not ignore that.

"If we focus more only on those issues which India gives importance to and ignore those considered important by Pakistan, then I don't think the talks can move forward" said Qureshi.

Qureshi said that Pakistan had shared a 'non-paper' with India.

"We understand India's concerns and want to address them. But Pakistan also has its concerns and core issues which should be understood by India", added Qureshi.

Qureshi says Pakistan wanted a roadmap for the future but Indian side felt they did not have the mandate to commit to a roadmap.

"India was narrowing the dialogue and we said you cannot be selective. Indian foreign minister received foreign policy directions from New Delhi repeatedly during our meeting," says Qureshi.

"Pakistan is ready for talks but dialogue should be subtantive, meaningful and result-oriented. Pakistan's people and Kashmiris cannot be delinked from the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," Qureshi adds.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India-not-ready-for-talks-Pakistan-foreign-minister/articleshow/6176208.cms

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