Qureshi emphasises broader view of Pakistan-India relations

PTI leader says the economically beneficial relationship can’t be viewed in isolation

LAHORE:

Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi recently discussed various aspects of the relationship between Pakistan and India, emphasising that while trade between the two countries is economically beneficial, it cannot be viewed in isolation from other issues.

Qureshi's comments came in a recent interview with the Times of India at a time when his successor, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, was attending a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers in Goa, marking the first time a Pakistani foreign minister visited India in over a decade.

He noted that his party was not opposing the exercise and understood that this was a "multilateral obligation."

Regarding trade between the two countries, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader acknowledged its economic benefits but stressed that it should not be seen as a stand-alone solution to improving relations. "It has to go in tandem with other things… but only trade [is] not enough," he said. "Trade can help improve relations, but trade in itself will not be enough."

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Qureshi also stated that Pakistan desires peaceful relations with India and that dialogue is the only way to resolve outstanding issues. He suggested that human rights, treatment of minorities, and water challenges should be discussed, and called for recognition that the abrogation of Article 370 is an internationally recognised dispute that cannot be brushed aside as India's internal matter.

He further emphasised the need for dialogue to resolve outstanding issues and stated that "we do not have a military solution to our issues, but they have to be resolved politically. They have to be resolved through dialogue." He added that his party and he desire peace with India, but there cannot be peace without dialogue and recognition of the issues at hand.

Qureshi expressed hope that Bilawal's visit to Goa would provide an opportunity to raise relevant issues, such as human rights and water challenges, and that he would not be shy about discussing them. He also suggested that while the SCO is a multilateral forum where bilateral issues cannot be raised, "on the sidelines... he should not miss that opportunity."