Pakistan

India ignoring Pakistan's overtures for peace: Salman Khurshid

Former Indian foreign minister says BJP-led government should respond towards building a stable and peaceful region

APP November 12, 2015

A file photo of Salman Khurshid. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: India has not responded to Pakistan's overtures for peace in South Asia the way it should have, said former Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshid.

Speaking at at the latest round of Jinnah Institute's Distinguished Speaker Series in Islamabad on Thursday, Khurshid said it was a far-sighted step of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend Indian premier Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony in May 2013.

However, he added, the BJP led-government in India failed to adequately reciprocate to Islamabad's peace overtures, he maintained.

Armed forces exchange sweets at Wagah-Attari border on Diwali

Khurshid said since 1947 the world had found solutions to several intractable disputes and conflicts, but the India-Pakistan confrontation remained largely unchanged.

Prime Minister Modi is still learning how to be a statesman, he said, adding if India wanted to move forward in its dialogue with Pakistan, it would have to take care rather than to unsettle the democratic political order in Islamabad.

The former Indian foreign minister of India said terrorism against any country was completely unacceptable, and Pakistan itself had not been spared from this scourge.

He praised Pakistan's fight against terrorism and acknowledged its role in fighting a difficult war in tribal areas.

COMMENTS (17)

someone | 9 years ago | Reply Yes sir we are ignoring because we know NS words don't have a meaning. He is stamp PM. Despite the majority he has, its not him calling the shots. India is waiting for the real Sharif to come to the power.

K Sudhir | 9 years ago | Reply When they are out of power, all Pakistani politicians talk of importance & possibilities peace & friendship with India. I have heard Benazir doing it, Nawaz doing it & even Immi doing it! But as soon as they come to power, all goes phutt! Probably Khurshid was greatly impressed by the two-timing style of Pakistani politicians! In the unlikely event Gandhi Dynasty comes to power, all will be forgotten. If at all there is a chance of peace between India & Pakistan, it will be during the Modi regime, perhaps after the liberation of Balochistan! This is sure to happen bcz Sharif in Khaki is dealing with Baloch people in inhuman, cruel ways similar to what Yahya did in Bangladesh in 1971. History will surely repeat.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Jaggu | 9 years ago | Reply @Anjan. Yes they resort to violence whenever India gets the opportunity.

RSM | 9 years ago | Reply I have seen the comments of Salman Khurshid formar Foreign Minister of Undia. I disagree with his comments and being an Indian, he should have avoided such comments. Even if he goes to UN, he will speak in favour of india or against it. If he has more love for Pakistan, he should leave India and settle in Pakistan. Remarks of such muslims is not good for general public of muslims who are favouring India. Possibly defeat of Congress Party in general elections still in their mind as they were beaten by BJP. I am not a BJP member but such remarks are not avoidable.

Ravi | 9 years ago | Reply Not surprising but yet surprising that this former law minister made such ridiculous comments. He should be roasted live when he returns.

P.R. Varadarajan | 9 years ago | Reply Salmanji remain wherever you are. Don't come back to India. What the Cong. govt. did to have better relations with Pak?. Supported dynastic rule ever since you are in politics.Don't worry about Bharat. You have done enough service to the nation when in power. Now prostrate before Gandhi family and keep quiet.

K B Kale | 9 years ago | Reply Yes! Absolutely true! Pakistan is sending its 'daily peace overtures' across LOC every day! How can we miss them? Khurshid's only quality for his position in the Congress Party is his willingness to bow down flat on his stimach on the floor before every member of Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty & nothing else!

brar | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Khursheed congress have been in power since 1947 except some brief spells why congress failed to solve the issues between India and Pakistan and now voted out you are advising to solve all issues and wait next time ur party comes to power solve all the issues because we want peace in the region but you are playing poliics.

auginpk | 9 years ago | Reply We respect PM Nawaz Shariff, especially since he is elected representative of Pakistan. We also respect his peace overtures. But we Indian also recognise the overarching influence of Pakistan army with anything to do with India. In light of that Mr.Khurshid should review his stand.

Anjaan | 9 years ago | Reply @ Usman777, You are right ... on Pakistan, terrorism and Kashmir, all the political parties, and the people of India are on the same page ... !! ... in India, talking peace does not mean giving concessions to Pakistan, but maintaining the status-quo without resorting to violence ... !!

mian | 9 years ago | Reply Modi is an over confiden f...

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply Control your terrorists. That is the only overture needed. When Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed are roaming free, any other "overture" is meaningless.

Tyggar | 9 years ago | Reply Yeah being nice to pakistan the congress way resulted in 26/11

ABCD | 9 years ago | Reply Look at who is giving these sermons. What effort he and his congress PM made to have better relations with Pakistan ? Did Man Mohan Singh ever crossed border to visit Pakistan ? Can't remember any congress Prime Minister of India visiting Pakistan. Mother of troubles in congress. Poor Modi is being maligned for no fault.

Kamal | 9 years ago | Reply Is this India ' s ex foreign minister talking or a pakistani talking. Then pakistani saying there is intolerance against muslim in india. India's biggest mistake was not sending all Muslim to pakistan when pakistan was created for indian muslim. India is back in 1947.

G. Din | 9 years ago | Reply This is our former "lawless" Law Minister who challenged his opponent to come to his constituency and return alive. The man is a Muslim Sickularist; he has to speak in favour of Pakistan. No surprises there!

Usman777 | 9 years ago | Reply Never get too excited about any Indian of any kind saying positive about Pakistan whether the so called secular or BJP. Scratch the surface and this guy will sing the same old Indian tunes on Kashmir and terrorism originating from Pakistan.

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