Shireen Mazari calls British secretary 'foolish' for saying Kashmir not linked to talks with India

PTI leader says British foreign secretary should not be telling Pakistan how to conduct its relations with India

Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari on Wednesday called British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond 'foolish' for saying the Kashmir issue should not be a precondition for starting the dialogue process with India.

"So UK foreign secretary wants Pakistan to talk to India without letting Kashmir come in the way! Foolish man should understand our history first!" Mazari tweeted.

So UK foreign secy wants Pak to talk to India without letting 0kashmir come in the way! Foolish man shd understand our history first! 1/2

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 9, 2016

She further added that Kashmir defined parameters of Pak-India relations. "Movement forward stops when something happens in IOK."

2/2 Kashmir whether we like it or not defines parameters of Pak-India relations! Movement "forward" stops when something happens in IOK.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 9, 2016

"We really don't need British foreign secretary telling us how to conduct our relations with India! He should focus on his EU problem instead!" she added.

We really don't need Br foreign secy telling us how to conduct r relations with India! He shd focus on his EU problem instead!

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 9, 2016

On Tuesday, Hammond urged both the countries to not allow non-state actors and other pressure groups to derail the peace process.

“I urge both Pakistan and India not to allow non-state actors and other pressure groups to derail the peace process. Settling the Kashmir issue should not be a precondition for starting the dialogue process,” Hammond said while addressing a joint press conference with Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.

The British foreign secretary advised Pakistan to speed up the investigation into January 2 terror assault on India’s Pathankot air base in northern Punjab state which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militant groups.



“I welcome Pakistan commitment to vigorously pursue Phatankot attack investigations and we hope that the country will make progress in the investigation,” he said.

Hammond also lauded Islamabad’s role in the fight against terrorism and said Britain will continue its support to Pakistan in war on terror. “I salute Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism. Pakistan is the victim of terrorism and we want to work with Pakistan to take on the threats it faces. British and Pakistan will remain partner against terrorism,” Hammond added.